As we transition from summer into the fall season, it’s important to keep in mind our level of stress. In our society, we are judged by our ability to grind and get work done. This burden that is placed on us keeps us going and going to achieve more and more. However, most of us have days when we feel overworked or underappreciated. Work can be stressful and demanding on us day in day out it. This tension can build up overtime which can lead to feeling fatigued, tired, irritable, stressed, and not motivated to do certain tasks.
Recently, people are acknowledging the problem of work-related stress and the impact it has our wellbeing. The struggle is real and can be quite taxing to manage. If not monitored regularly, this continuous pressure might bring up feelings of helplessness and exhaustion, which may indicate elements of being burnout.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion as a result of prolonged response to chronic stressors on the job. These feelings can have negative effects which can spill over into other areas of life which include home, work, and social life if not addressed. Here are some common signs of burnout:
Physical
- Increased sickness and illness
- Feeling tired
- Low energy
- Change in appetite
- Change in sleep patterns
Emotional
- Sense of failure
- Self-doubt
- Feeling helpless, trapped and defeated
- Loss of motivation
- Increased cynical and negative thoughts
- Decreased satisfaction
- Lack of accomplishment
Behavioral
- Isolating yourself from others
- Withdrawing from responsibilities
- Taking out your frustration on others
- Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early
- Procrastinating
- Taking longer to get things done
Having these symptoms can make you feel powerless. But there is hope. Once recognizing these symptoms, reaching out to a mental health professional can be very beneficial. Therapy can help explore these symptoms and promote overall growth and change. Other very helpful modalities are meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, and a healthy lifestyle.