Giving less than 100 per cent is not a concept high achievers live by. For many of us, taking it easy and abandoning goals because our body is physically and emotionally drained can be even more mentally and emotionally draining than continuing to push through.
This last 12 months have challenged us all – in very different ways. And when life or your job or your relationship….or a combination of all three starts to affect your health, then it is time to take a hard look around you, at your life, before you move into real burnout territory.
Burnout is a state of physical and/or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity. It can take you, pretty darn quickly, to a dark place.
So just what is Burnout? What are the symptoms? What can you do to prevent it?
Point 1: “Burnout” isn’t really a medical diagnosis. Some believe that it may be triggered by depression or other conditions. Others believe that there is not one simple cause, rather factors at work and in your personal life collide and create an impact on your physical and mental health.
Point 2: Burnout presents like several other health conditions. Reflect on your work and personal life to answer these key questions:
- Have you noticed that you are becoming more cynical or critical at work?
- Have you become easily irritable or impatient with your peers, customers, friends or family?
- Do you seem to lack the energy to be consistently productive, dragging yourself around without doing very much?
- Has concentrating at the level required to get tasks done become hard?
- Are you feeling disillusioned about your job or your relationship?
- Have you begun using food, drugs or alcohol more than usual, hoping to feel better or to not feel at all?
- What, if anything, has changed about your sleep habits?
- Have you recently experienced unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems, or any other new aches and pains?
Keep a journal of your reflection so that you can return to it regularly to answer these same questions – that way your journey to better health is documented.
Point 3: Feeling like you have a lack of control is a big contributor. You know….that feeling of not being able to influence or even discuss the decisions being made at work or at home. Review where you might be able to take some control back and take small steps toward doing that. Now!!
Point 4: Doing monotonous, boring work is just as damaging as living in chaos where there is no clarity beyond the next task or drama being put in front of you. We all need challenges and variety…OK, some of us need less that others, however without some variety and some challenge in your day, energy is sapped simply to remain focused on getting through without falling asleep. You deserve better! Consider what you can change about your life to create more variety or challenge so that you are more engaged each day and much more stimulated – in your work and in your relationships.
Point 5: Hard work does not automatically lead to Burnout. Things that contribute to Burnout are lack of harmony between your work and personal lives, trying to be everything to everyone, pleasing people all the time, little or no control over your work and being in a rut professionally and personally. Hard work and harmony contribute to a positive, joyful life. Do I need to remind you that you have choices here! What can you change that creates more harmony in your life?
Point 6: Ignore Burnout at your peril! Fatigue, insomnia, misuse of alcohol or drugs, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, compromised immune system, loss of interest in sex, depression, anger……..these are all potential consequences of Burnout. Time to look after yourself and make some lifestyle choices that become habits in your life.
Point 7: Taking time off can exacerbate the problems. While taking time off from work or away from your relationship gives you time to think, it can contribute to a head in the sand attitude……problem has gone away so no need to deal with it by taking action. Seek support, be deliberate about relaxing activities, get regular physical activity – a short work around the block every day is a great start – catch up on your sleep and breathe….then breathe again. Taking action is the key because it is the first step to getting back some control over your work and your relationships. You have choices. You always have choices.
Do you have the courage to change things?