Wellness In The Workplace: Burnout

With Kath Morgan, Land Buyer at Lifestory Group

2:00AM - can’t sleep.

3:00AM - can’t sleep.

4:00AM - can’t sleep.

5:00AM - can’t sleep.

5:57AM - falls in slow motion down a dreamlike rabbit hole… the kind of sleep you only see in luxury mattress commercials.

6:00AM - ALARM.

Cue driving to work on autopilot only to reach your destination and not even remembering how you got there. There’s no doubt that whether you are physically going into the office or working from home, our mental health at work matters.?

We all know that having a well balanced work-life is about prioritising things as per their importance. However, remote working has meant a lot of us aren’t interacting with others as much as we’re used to. But the biggest reason why burnout is hitting an all time peak is that teams are struggling to find that work-life balance, particularly when work and home are the same space.

Burnout is your body’s way of telling you that you’re doing too much and that you need to rest. Of course, everyone who has ever held a job at some point has felt work related stress. Any job can have stressful elements, even if you love what you are doing. Experiencing burnout in an area you love doesn’t mean that you are no longer passionate about it, or are any less good at it. It’s often an indication that you are overwhelmed and there are parts of your life that need your care and attention.

• Do you feel as though you’ve been revving your car engine with the handbrake on?

The exhaustion and fatigue that comes with burnout can make us feel unsafe, shifting our nervous system into fight-or-flight mode, triggering us to work harder than ever and be more productive. And so we find ourselves in a vicious cycle of burnout and hyperproductivity, never feeling safe enough to slow down and rest. Enter our best friend, Insomnia.?

Now ask yourself this question:

• Do you make self care and rest an active part of your daily life?

Self care is a priority, not a luxury. We all battle on as best we can, prioritising our daily workload, starting and (trying) to finish work on time, trying our best to maintain a healthy lifestyle, making sure we are taking in enough water, exercise, taking regular breaks etc. (step away from the screen people!!), but remembering to prioritise OURSELVES always seems to fall to the bottom of the list.?

Believe me when I say that you will be able to handle whatever comes your way, so long as you take care of yourself. So many of us push our bodies and minds and it’s only when we are forced to stop that we have the break… such as holidays and Christmas… but then how many people fall ill and don't get the rest they need and deserve? All of the stress that has been building up comes out! Having the energy to make the change is a task in itself but by breaking the cycle and implementing small healthy daily habits to prioritise your wellbeing will teach you nourishing ways to feel balanced, healthy, happy and more energised as part of your lifestyle.

So how do we do this?

If you are wrestling with the feelings of stress or burnout, it might take time and patience, but the good news is know that you are not alone and by putting yourself first, you will feel like yourself again - you just need to give yourself time to heal and grow.

Our thoughts create our feelings and as most of our life is spent inside our heads, we need to make it an enjoyable place to be. SLOW DOWN. Stop. Step back. REST. Sleep is a powerful stress reducer. Take a good look around you - what serves you? What doesn’t? Breathe. Reset. Talk to someone. Take a break. Take a holiday. Get outside in nature. Exercise. Try yoga. Try kickboxing. Be more mindful. Make your bed. You don’t have to do it all, certainly not all at once anyway. Set healthy boundaries. Say NO when a boundary is crossed. Be honest about your feelings. Weigh out the weight of it all. Everything. Breathe more. Then adjust and start again with fresh eyes… you just might be surprised with what you see.?

“A garden looks most beautiful when every flower is watered and you deserve to nourish yourself in the same way. You will flourish again.”

Our people are our biggest asset. So today, check in with your teams. See how they are feeling. Do they need any support? How can you/we help them?