Burnout – 7 signs you need to slow down

I plead guilty! I am totally guilty of going on and on until my body refuses to corporate with me. While checking for the perfect definition of Burnout, I stumbled on Business Dictionary’s definition of burnout – “Feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion, due to stress from working with people under difficult or demanding conditions“. Burnout can be physical, emotional and mental.

Experiencing any of these signs then it is time to slow down:

#1 – Loss of sleep

If you have to force yourself to have a good night sleep continuously then you may as well be overworking your body and this is your body’s way of sending you a signal to slow down.

#2 – Depression

Feeling down lately? Like you haven’t done enough? Or you aren’t good enough? Then you just may be experiencing one of the signs of burnout especially if this extends for a long period of time.

#3 – Anxiety

Anxiety is the feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Feeling anxious about your life? career? relationship? Then it is time to slow down.

#4 – Isolation

Finding it difficult to balance your career life with your relationship with others? Are you so busy that it is constantly affecting your time with loved ones? Or you suddenly realize that you have little or no family and friends? Then you have slowly started isolating yourself from meaningful relationships.

#5 – Fatigue

This is different from being tired as a result of the day’s work or things you did. Fatigue is extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.

#6 – Anger

Exploding at things that you won’t have gotten angry over recently? Having uncontrollable anger? Or getting angry about your life? Everything around you just gets you angry? Then it is time to slow down.

#7 – Decline in Health

This is usually the last sign of burnout. However, if you notice a decline in your health before you are bedridden then you should know it is time to pay attention to your health.

HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT

Knowing the signs of burnout isn’t enough, “prevention is better than cure”. Avoiding burnout requires a conscious effort on your part. Those prone to burnout are usually those known as workaholics. Emotional burnout is prone to occur more with people who surround themselves with negative and abusive people.

Steps to avoiding burnout:

1. Delegate Tasks

Learn to assign tasks that can be done by someone else. Also, learn to say NO when the additional task is added to your task especially when it isn’t part of your job description. You must also know that you can’t give your time to everyone. My first reaction when I am asked to do something for a friend is Yes but I have learned to check when my schedule doesn’t permit this and I have learned to say No when required.

2. Learn to Add Rest to your Schedule

Consciously add rest to your schedule especially at intervals when carrying out tasks. Learn to walk around when in a sitting position for too long.

3. Have a Great Diet

Yes, I feel like a hypocrite about this. My diet needs help but I know the importance of having a great diet and maybe I am not trying yet but I am working on it and you should too. You need strength for your daily activities, so not just eating but eating a balanced diet is important.

4. Exercise

I Love weight lifting. I have not exercised in a long time…especially for the fear of having muscle…Noooooo, I am not interested in having one. Yet there are simple exercises that are necessary and helpful. If you climb a flight of stairs and you are breathing heavily then you definitely need exercise. I have heard people say “what are you doing exercise for, you want to disappear?”. Well, you can be slim and unfit and you can be chubby and fit.

5. Spend Quality Time with Loved Ones

Learn to spend time with not just loved ones but loved ones that exhume positive emotions. Anyone that drains you emotionally should be kept at arm’s length because they end up draining you.

Like I said I am guilty about a lot of things I have listed here but I have decided to pay attention to these things in order to be fully productive.

Related Article: Deep Thoughts: Finding the Right Rhythm

Related Article: #Day 7: 7 DAYS PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGE