Signs of Burnout and How to Prevent It.

Every elevator has a sign stating the maximum capacity for its occupants. Some would usually take somewhere between 1 to 15 persons (or indicate the weight it can carry). Once that capacity is exceeded, the likelihood that the elevator will lose control and function improperly is very high. Hence, the caution remains noticeable for all to see and comply accordingly.

Typical Burnout Scenario. You believe you can do more than you can, and you also realize that your optimism can harm you and everyone else if you don't have a balance—a balance between your capability and constraints. Yet you somehow ignore the warnings. It then becomes very evident that you cannot maintain that balance even when you try to multitask your way around it - seeing that the things you are juggling aren't near finished and keep piling up - and you are now both concerned and helpless. Still, you keep pushing... If this is you (or someone you know) this post is for you.

No, this is not a motivational post about how you can overcome if you simply keep pushing and believing in yourself. This is a post about preventing a health hazard that can be avoided by slowing down and offloading any excesses!?

Burnout: What Does It Mean?

Burnout is the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. It happens when you feel stressed out, emotionally/physically drained, and most times when you are unable to meet set expectations.

Burnouts are caused by over-assertion or taking on too many responsibilities. It can be work-related, family-related, parenting-related, relationship-related, or caused by other factors. Whatever the cause, the steps to taking necessary action to prevent any negative outcome are recommended in this post.?

3 Signs To Look Out For

Ever heard of the saying “an overloaded life leads to meltdowns”? Well, it is indeed an accurate saying. These most common signs of burnout are similar but distinct as they may be experienced differently from person to person.?

1. Exhaustion. This is a physical sign of burnout. You feel tired all the time, sleeping off as your head hits the bed. You are working hard at work trying to meet a deadline or taking extra hours to get more pay. Perhaps you even feel the increasing headaches as you continue to dismiss time off to "cool off". If it has nothing to do with work, there is something there worth taking a closer look at. Anything that inhibits rest weighs heavily on your physical state and causes exhaustion.
2. Lack of Enthusiasm. This is an emotional sign of burnout. Having no motivation or drive towards any undertaking. You feel mentally tired, unwilling to engage socially and want to be distant from people. Even when you agree to meet up with people, 10 minutes seems like hours. Your only thoughts are about doing something else (even though you don't know what that is). You approach everything halfheartedly and with indifference.
3. Depleted Energy. This is everything combined. You are unable to concentrate on a task and find yourself thinking of irrelevant things at critical moments. You are forgetful and procrastinate on everything. You find it difficult to follow through on tasks and commitments. You simply do not want to do anything. Your lack of energy is a result of stress - mental and/or physical stress.?

How to Prevent a Burnout

Sometimes all you need is to catch up on a few hours of sleep and all the signs will disappear. If that is all it takes, wouldn't that be as simple as ensuring you get that extra snooze time? But what happens if they reoccur again and again? It's time to take a closer look at some changes that can give you that balance.

1. Prioritize. As much as you can, prioritize your well-being first. Take some time off. Step away to relieve tension. De-stress by letting your body and mind rest and recharge. In prioritizing you may also need to say no to some things and strike them off your to-do list. To-do does not equal Must-do.
2. Talk about it. Talk about what you can and cannot do; do not over-promise. Set realistic goals for meeting deadlines, and ask for more time if expectations cannot be met. Most importantly, talk to someone about your state of mind and accept the help offered to ease off any stress-related activities.
3. Re-evaluate. What are you doing now that doesn't require the amount of commitment you are giving to it? Know your tipping points and acknowledge your limitations. Everyone has a level of capacity they can take on. Re-evaluate and decide to brush aside those things that would only add undue pressure on you and could cause you to break down.

Ignoring the signs does not eliminate the symptoms; it may delay the outcome, but eventually, there will be an eruption. Burnouts can lead to negative consequences that may affect your physical and mental health. Know the signs and prevent them from escalating.