Xero C.No matter what we do for a living, all of us are bound to feel burned out once in a while. It could be that you are feeling you have no control over your professional success, either because of a lack of clear expectations or a litany of tasks to do. It could also be that you do not have a great working relationship with your coworkers, or you are simply spending too much time working and not enough time with your friends and family. However, if you are feeling burned out for an extended period of time, and there is no viable end to your burn out in sight, then you will have to take action to regain control of your mental and physical wellbeing. This does not mean you have to quit your job every time you feel burned out — far from it — but you do need to take action, whether personally or professionally, to get yourself feeling better. Here are some tips that I personally employ when I am feeling burned out that may be able to help, and why you should try them.
The Causes and Costs of Burnout
No matter how it feels at the moment, you are not the only victim of burnout. Your family, friends, and coworkers will no doubt notice the stress you are under, and the impact it has had on your mood, attention, and relationships. Whether these feelings are brought on by a heavy workload, poor work-life balance, or lack of control, the costs are going to look similar. Burnout results in you feeling exhausted, angry, depressed, or apathetic. It can also cause real health issues, like heart disease, and can make it easier for you to get sick.
Practice Mindfulness
If you are having difficulty getting out of your own head and getting your work done, it may be a good idea to practice some simple mindfulness meditation practices. Try to keep your back straight and feet on the floor while sitting on a comfortable seat. Breath through your nose and focus on your breath. Let your negative thoughts and distractions fade away. Try and keep interruptions and distractions to a minimum so you can benefit fully from your meditation. These mindfulness practices can be paired with relaxing exercises, like yoga or tai chi, to get you to peak relaxation.
Talk to Your Boss
While this is not guaranteed to work, it is a better option than keeping your frustrations and concerns all to yourself. If you let your boss know how you are feeling, he may be able to help you. Think about it this way: if you are overworked, and feel burned out because you are unable to meet your expectations for yourself, then it’s best you let your boss know. They may be able to help shift some of that work off your plate, or find a way to make your assignments more palatable. This way, you will feel less burned out and stressed, and more able to conquer the tasks ahead of you.
The same applies for if you are unsure of what your boss’ expectations of you are. Don’t know what the goal is for your work? Ask, and get some clarification on what you should be aiming to accomplish in a given day. If the answers you get are hostile or unsatisfactory, then it may be time to look at larger life changes, but there is always room to negotiate when it comes to these things.
Take Care of Yourself
If you are feeling burned out because of a lack of work-life balance, then you may need to start treating yourself better. Think of how you treat your friends and loved ones. You will go out of your way to help them when they are having a problem. Why don’t you treat yourself the same way? Ask for the support you need, whether that is at work or at home, to help you get through the complicated emotions and stress you are feeling right now. Your support system will be there when you need it, and can help you get through the darkest times like an ever-present torch. You wouldn’t leave your friends hanging, and they shouldn’t leave you hanging either. If you have any other questions, or want hints and tips about wellness, nutrition, fitness, or a load of other topics, please check out our other blogs for more!
