Here's how you can use emotional intelligence to prevent and manage burnout in the workplace.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial when it comes to preventing burnout. Developing the skill of recognizing your feelings and emotions and how they are impacting everything you do on a daily basis will help you gain a better perspective on what is causing you to feel burnout, or what will help you prevent burnout in the future. So many people think that if they are stressed or feeling burnt out, they just need to get a massage, or something similar, and everything will be better, but if you've done this in the past, you've probably realized that after the massage, you still have the same problems. This is something I work with my clients on. We don't simply put a band-aid on something that isn't addressing the root cause.

What is emotional intelligence? According to Salvorey et al. (1990), emotional intelligence is “the ability to control emotions of oneself and others, to distinguish them from each other and to apply this information to guide one’s own thinking and action.” Here are some strategies for using emotional intelligence to prevent and reduce burnout: ? Bring a sense of appreciation to each day. ? Explore and find meaning and purpose in life and work. ? Know your mental and physical limits Source: Salovey P, Mayer JD. Emotional intelligence. Imagin. Cogn., Personal. 1990; 9 185–211.

Being aware of the initial signs of burnout will help you prevent it, or help ensure you don't find yourself with a more extreme case of burnout or exhaustion. A few early signs of burnout can include: headaches, insomnia, exhaustion, reduced performance and worry or anxiety. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important that you start taking action so that you are able to manage your emotions and reduce or prevent your burnout from getting any worse.

If you find a colleague who may be suffering from burnout, you can often help them by helping them become aware of what you notice. Many times, people are unaware that they are suffering from burnout, and when you show that you are genuinely interested in their well-being, you can help them become aware of what is causing their burnout and help create solutions that can improve their overall well-being. There is so much you can do for your colleagues by simply being caring and compassionate.

Decreased empathy is a sign of burnout. So, if you're prompted to foster this and instead you feel a sense of depersonalization, or lack of ability to put yourself in the shoes of others, it can be an indication that you may benefit from exploring where you fall on the burnout scale.

Having studied psychology, i would suggests approaches from the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model that offers a powerful framework. This approach emphasizes the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT helps you identify those negative thought patterns and develop coping mechanisms to challenge and reframe them. For instance, if you're feeling overwhelmed by a workload, CBT can help you identify self-critical thoughts like "I'm a failure" and replace them with more realistic ones like "This feels challenging, but I can break it down into manageable tasks." By taking control of your thoughts, you can manage your emotions and adopt healthier behaviors, both preventing and managing burn out.

To use emotional intelligence to prevent and manage burnout in the workplace: you can Recognize your emotions, Manage your stress, Communicate effectively, Set boundaries, Practice self-care, Foster a positive work culture, Encourage work-life balance, Provide resources and support, Lead by example_ By using emotional intelligence, you can prevent and manage burnout in the workplace, creating a healthy, productive, and supportive environment for everyone.

Self-care is much more than just taking a warm bath or getting a massage. I'm not saying that this type of self-care isn't helpful, but you need to take self-care a step further and find the root cause of your stress and burnout. When I work with my clients, they are often puzzled when they take the time to get massages, but it doesn't seem to improve their situations. What we do is dive deeper to find out what is causing all of the stress and burnout so that we can take precise actionable steps to help them overcome it. You need to make sure you are prioritizing your self-care, and if you are unable to figure out solutions on your own, you may need to seek help from someone who can help you.

One actionable tip I often share with my clients is to schedule non-negotiable "self-care appointments" in their calendar. Treat these appointments with the same importance as a work meeting or deadline. During these dedicated time slots, engage in activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This could include a yoga class, a nature walk, journaling, or practicing mindfulness meditation.

One unique way I enjoy to measure and track my wellbeing is to measure changes in my Heartrate Variability (HRV). You could use a biofeedback device and do mindful or breathing exercises to observe and improve your scores. Coherent or Resonant breathing works very well. This is a good way to protect against burnout, and boost your own emotional intelligence as you become more aware of your own feelings and those around you too, through the mindful awareness. I write more about mindfulness side in my book ‘The Mindful Way Through Stress’.

Las practica del Mindfulness como un estilo de vida, contribuye a tener mayor consciencia de como nos sentimos (propiocepción) y como decidimos vivir cada momento, además de aprender a acondicionar nuestro cuerpo, mente y respiración para modularnos, ralentizando el cansancio y logrando mas actividades con mas lucidez.