If constant stress has you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted, you may be on the road to burnout. Learn what you can do to regain your balance and feel positive and hopeful again. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the pressure continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a specific role in the first place. Burnout reduces your productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.
Burnout may result from unrelenting stress, but it isn't the same as too much stress. Focus, by and large, involves too much: too many pressures that demand too much of you physically and mentally. However, stressed people can still imagine that they'll feel better if they can get everything under control.
TIP # 1: TURN TO OTHER PEOPLE
When you're burned out, problems seem insurmountable, everything looks bleak, and it's challenging to muster up the energy to care, let alone take action to help yourself. But you have a lot more control over stress than you may think. You can take positive steps to deal with overwhelming anxiety and get your life back into balance. One of the most effective is to reach out to others. Reach out to those closest to you, be more friendly with your co-workers, limit your contact with negative people, connect with a cause or a community group that is personally meaningful to you, and most significantly, find new friends.
TIP # 2: REFRAME THE WAY YOU LOOK AT WORK
Whether you have a job that leaves you rushed off your feet or one that is monotonous and unfulfilling, the most effective way to combat job burnout is to quit and find a job you love instead. Of course, for many of us, changing position or career is far from being a practical solution; we're grateful to have work that pays the bills. Whatever your situation, though, there are still steps you can take to improve your state of mind.
TIP # 3: REEVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES
Burnout is an undeniable sign that something important in your life is not working. Take time to think about your hopes, goals, and dreams. Are you neglecting something fundamental to you? This can be an opportunity to rediscover what makes you happy and slow down and give yourself time to rest, reflect, and heal.
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