You're feeling burnt out from work. How can you recharge and get back to your best self?

As a burnout specialist, I've seen countless patients walk through my door with a familiar story: exhaustion, reduced productivity, and a heavy weight of stress. But there's one symptom that often sets burnout apart from chronic stress – cynicism. How does cynicism present? Constant negativity: You find yourself criticizing everything from work processes to colleagues' efforts. Sarcasm and Apathy: Sarcastic humor becomes your default, masking deeper frustration. You might feel indifferent about tasks you were once passionate about. Increased Absenteeism: Cynicism can make the idea of facing work unbearable. Cynicism is a symptom, recognizing it, and reclaim your optimism and rebuild a more fulfilling work life.

Burnout relentlessly chips away at your health and well-being. Work is never going to end. If you're not getting enough sleep and always chasing deadlines to deadlines and feeling stressed and unhappy - It's time to stop, slowdown and reflect.

In my experience, recognizing the signs of burnout takes a few tries. We often don’t recognize it the first time it happens. So giving ourselves grace and accepting the aches and pains are a first start to building hope that you can improve your energy over time. Naming our feelings or unfamiliar situations can help to identify whether they are signs of burnout. Some feelings …. - tired (and wired!) - constantly “on” - frustrated - unfulfilled - as if we just can’t get it all done - trying to keep it together - drained - etc.

I believe burnout isn't due to the workload or hours; it's fundamentally linked to 'losing control.' When things spiral out of your grasp, that's when the exhaustion kicks in. My take? Reclaim your control. Prioritize ruthlessly. Not everything demands your immediate attention. Organize your tasks, breaking them down into manageable chunks. Delegate—no, you don't have to do it all yourself. Remember, it's about working smarter, not harder. And focus. Keep your eyes on the prize—your end goal. Don't let distractions veer you off course. Sometimes, stepping back to realign is all it takes to reignite that inner fire. You're not just regaining control; you're setting the stage for your best self to shine.

Setting boundaries is definitely good but I personally couldn't implement it. I prefer to simply prioritize the items which are important and items which will take your stress away. That's very helpful.

This is crucial. Working endless hours without breaks will damage your health, mood, and relationships. Telling yourself to take breaks is one thing, but using the Pomodoro Technique helps you build focused work sessions AND commit to restorative breaks.

If you're struggling as an employee, don't go it alone. Talk to your manager and share what you're experiencing. They might be able to shift priorities or delegate tasks to lighten your load. Also, open up to your partner. Good communication can reduce stress at home, and they might even be able to take on some of your responsibilities to give you space to recover.

Even if you love your work, burnout can still strike. It's a phase many people go through, not a sign that your job is wrong. The key is to stay connected to your personal goals and relationships. Prioritize your health and family – that's the foundation for getting through tough times. Challenging times pass; focus on the things that truly matter, and you'll not only survive, but thrive.

Take smaller breaks in between for doing pushups, drinking water, having some fresh air walk outside. Consuming regular caffeine(Tea/Coffee) during work keeps you focused massively, you don't feel burnt outs while consuming caffeine, it instantly recharges the mind.

Burnout is no joke. Chronic stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can leave you feeling drained. But there's good news: recovering from burnout is all about taming this stress hormone. Here are some ways to reduce cortisol levels and recover from burnout: Deep Breathe Step Outside Laugh it Out Chill Out with Exercise Power Down for Sleep. When you're sleep deprived, your body produces more cortisol. By incorporating these simple strategies, you can manage your cortisol levels and start feeling like yourself again. Remember, burnout recovery is a journey, so be patient and celebrate your progress!

A Mensa member once told me: you are born with an IQ and you cannot increase it. What can I do then? I asked. The answer is simple and known for a long time: watch your sleep, enjoy a balanced diet and exercise. That's the only way to have the right mindset, the only to access 100% of your IQ.