Are You Experiencing Burnout? Emotional Exhaustion is a Growing Concern Among Young Professionals.
Burnout is a real issue for young professionals and millennials. Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity.
Burnout can have serious negative effects on an individual's overall well-being. Experiencing burnout can make it difficult to keep up with the demands of their job and still have time for family, friends, hobbies, and self-care.
Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout and learning stress management tools early on is key.
The physical and mental symptoms of burnout
Burnout manifests itself differently for everyone. Some common burnout symptoms include feeling overwhelmed or stressed out all the time, having difficulty concentrating, not enjoying activities that used to be enjoyable, feeling tired, and feeling emotionally and physically drained.
Other physical symptoms may include sleeping too much or too little; headaches; stomach aches, changes in appetite, or feeling irritable or easily angered.
It's important to recognize that burnout is not the same as being tired from working hard—it's an accumulation of excessive stress over time that leads to a complete loss of energy and motivation, making it difficult to complete everyday tasks.
It's also important to note that burnout isn't just caused by job stress —it can also be caused by personal relationships, finances, health conditions, etc. Recognizing the root cause(s) of your burnout is essential so one can take steps toward recovery.
Coping with the mental health toll of burnout
The first step is recognizing the signs of burnout and understanding that it’s ok not to be ok all the time. Stress can be normal but if you start to notice any of these symptoms for more than a few days in a row – it’s time for a break!
Make sure to prioritize self-care practices like healthy sleep habits (7-9 hours), finding ways to relax such as yoga or meditation, eating a balanced and healthy diet, spending time with people that bring you joy like family members, friends, partners, and engaging in activities that make you happy like reading a book or working on an art project.
Also, consider talking with someone like a therapist or other healthcare professionals who can help guide you and offer mental health resources when stress and burnout get too overwhelming.
Tips to Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance and Avoid Burnout
Taking steps to balance your workload and look after your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is key to avoiding burnout. Here are some ways to help maintain a healthy work-life balance:
Set realistic goals for yourself-Aiming too high can lead to feelings of disappointment and failure, so keep expectations of yourself in check and only push yourself as far as you know you can go.
Take regular breaks- Make sure to take regular breaks throughout the day, both at work and when taking on tasks outside of work hours. This gives you time to recharge which can help avoid fatigue in the long run.
Prioritize self-care- Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly, and make time for activities that make you happy. Taking care of yourself is essential for avoiding burnout and staying productive.
Tips to Alleviate Burnout symptoms
Recovering from burnout can take time, but there are steps you can take to help manage your stress levels and get back on track. Here are some tips for recovering from burnout:
Take a break-Taking some time away from work can be beneficial in reducing stress levels and helping you feel rejuvenated. Find an activity that makes you feel relaxed and re-energized, whether it's getting outside, playing an instrument, or engaging in relaxation techniques like yoga or mindfulness.
Prioritize self-care- Make sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and take regular breaks throughout the day. Take up activities like exercise that boost your well-being. Remember to make time for things that make you happy – this will help put you in a better frame of mind for tackling work tasks.
Create boundaries- It's important to create boundaries between work and home life so that each area has its own identity and purpose without becoming too intertwined with one another. This will help reduce overwhelm and give you more energy for productive tasks in either sphere of life.
Getting Support for Stress and Burnout
Symptoms of burnout and mental health problems among young professionals are becoming increasingly common due to the demands of modern life and increasing work-related stress. It’s important to recognize the signs early on so you can take steps toward preventing further burnout. Keep in mind that burnout and severe stress are different for everyone, so don't be afraid to ask questions and explore the best solutions for you.
Remember, burnout doesn't have to be a permanent condition. With the right coping skills, changes to your work environment, and a support system in place, you can take steps towards recovery and manage your mental health better.
Burnout is something that everyone experiences at some point in their life. Thankfully, there are many resources to help you through it!
At Better Days Counselling & Psychotherapy, we can work with you to uncover the root cause of your burnout and provide strategies so that you can begin your healing journey. We'll also guide you on how to make changes so future burnouts become few and far between - leaving more time for joy instead!
Making these changes can help you find balance in life again and feel refreshed and energized. Don't let burnout and too much stress take over – take charge of your life today and prevent burnout!
