We’ve all felt tired every now and then. Worn down and worn out from the stresses of our professional and personal life. Burnout is something beyond that basic stress.
It’s feeling drained all the time, no matter how much you sleep or relax. It’s losing interest in and passion for all the things you used to love. It’s shifting gears from someone who’s motivated, driven, and focused to someone who’s simply drifting aimlessly through life.
Ordinarily, burnout is something usually tied to people in high-pressure, highly-competitive careers. Entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, and so on. Given current events, however more people than ever are now grappling with the condition.
And honestly, who can blame them?
“More than seven in 10 professionals today are suffering from burnout in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic,” reads a piece published on Human Resources Director magazine, “The biggest setback for workers is the lack of separation between their work and private life, according to a new study from professional feedback platform Blind.”
These are stressful, trying times. Your first step in addressing your own burnout is to acknowledge that. To be kind to yourself, and understand that there’s nothing wrong with needing time to rest, recharge, and recuperate.
Starting with that foundation of self-care, there are a few things you can do.
Take A Mental Inventory
Think about the situations that make you feel anxious, frustrated, or helpless. Consider what it is about them that makes you feel so stressed. Think of at least one thing you can change about each situation that might help you reduce the stress you feel about them.
Start small, and understand that this is not a race. It’s a process. If you can go from outright panic or complete disillusionment to partial indifference, that’s still progress, and you should still be proud of it.
Set Clear Boundaries
Rest. Relax. Recuperate.
When you’re recovering from burnout, avoid taking on any new commitments or responsibilities. Most overachievers and perfectionists have a terrible habit of saying “yes” to new tasks by default. Resist this urge, and delegate as much as you possibly can.
If necessary, speak to your colleagues and leadership about how you’re feeling. Explain that you’re overwhelmed and burnt out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help where you need it.
More importantly, set clear boundaries. Your mind and body are both in a weakened state when you’re burnt out, and you need to give them a chance to recover. Don’t jump endlessly from one commitment to the next.
Practice saying no, and practice setting clear delineations between your regular work and any additional responsibilities you might take on.
Don’t Take Your Work Home
If you’re like most high-achieving individuals, you want to feel like a rock star. You want to show everyone how fast you can get things done with style and flourish. But no one can perform at their peak 100 percent of the time, especially not if they’re burnt out.
Use this opportunity to re-establish your work-life balance. Make time for a new passion. Disconnect from all professional commitments during your downtime. Find things you enjoy doing solely for the sake of doing them.
And don’t feel guilty if you aren’t at your best, because you’re still trying your best.
Burnout Isn’t a Career Killer
Burnout is unpleasant. It’s challenging, frustrating, and frightening. But it’s not insurmountable.
Focus on self-care, and you’ll take it down just like every other challenge in your life.