How are you today?

We often find ourselves?tired for long periods, physically and mentally exhausted. Our professional efficacy and motivation begin to decrease as we remain in this state.

Burnout can be an explanation. In the lines below, you will find more about this subject.

What is burnout?

A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, burnout comes from stress exposure. Generally, the stress that leads to burnout is consistent and ongoing for an extended period. Usually, a single stressful event isn't enough to cause burnout.?

Burnout and work-life balance

Work is one of the main parts of our life; whether we like it or not, it greatly impacts our overall health and well-being.

Working in a high-pressure environment, the number of tasks, lack of recognition or reward, and the relationship with your colleagues or managers can lead to a high level of stress. This combined with an unhealthy lifestyle (no time for relaxation or socialization, taking on too many responsibilities, not getting enough sleep, and the desire to achieve perfection) and no clear boundaries between your job and your personal life, can lead to burnout.

Symptoms

Characterized by 3 dimensions (physical, emotional, and mental), this is how burnout manifests:

1. Physical:?headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, chest pain, intestinal problems, immune system problems.
2. Emotional:?may feel easily frustrated and angry, irritable, anxious, panicky, sad, or may cry without knowing why.
3. Mental:?forgetfulness, trouble staying focused, impaired problem-solving, impaired self-control, and feelings of “brain fog”.
4. Behavioural:?seeking safety and relief by withdrawing from social life, quitting sports or other hobbies, withdrawing from friends and family, and leaning toward maladaptive behaviors (such as overeating, drugs, and alcohol consumption)

Prevention

1. Interact with other people.?Speak about what’s going on in your life or at work with your friends or colleagues, limit your interactions with negative people, and make new friends.
2. Try to look at your work from a different perspective.?Find value in your job, speak with your manager about your tasks, and take time off.
3. Re-evaluate your priorities.?Set clear boundaries at work and in your personal life, take a break from technology and social media, do something creative or something that makes you happy, set aside relaxation time, get enough sleep, and try to exercise daily.
4. Support your mood and energy levels with a healthy diet.

One of the basic design elements of the human body is its requirement for renewal through rest.

1. Passive recovery (lowering physiological arousal) – centered breathing, short naps, meditating, healthy snacks, relaxing reading, listening to music, etc.
2. Active recovery (increasing heart rate & blood circulation) – a brisk walk, taking a few flights of stairs, aerobic exercise, weight training, circuit training, etc.?

We hope that everything is okay. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described in this article, please talk to someone about them (your manager,?colleagues, a therapist, your family) because you deserve to take care of yourself.

So, how are you today?