What is burnout?
Burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when you experience long-term stress in your job or have worked in a physically or emotionally draining role for a long time.
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Burnout is a word that we hear more and more in our day-to-day lives. Maybe you have experienced it yourself, or maybe you have a friend or family member who’s been through it. Many times, it’s possible to recover from burnout, and luckily, it’s also something that we can work on preventing by taking appropriate rest. However, rest is not as simple as sleeping enough! In this article, we will share with you Dr. Dalton-Smith‘s theory, which presents the idea that humans need equal restoration in seven key areas of their lives to avoid burnout.
Physical rest
Lack of sleep and overtraining deplete your body’s energy. if you lack this rest, you might feel fatigue and body aches and pain. Physical rest includes both an active and passive component.
- High-quality sleep
- Taking power naps as you need
Active (improve the body’s circulation and flexibility):
- Stretch
- Get a massage
- Do some yoga
You may notice you lack mental rest if you’re unable to quiet your racing mind when lying down to sleep or forget why you’ve entered a room.
- Schedule breaks throughout the day to remind you to slow down
- Write down your to-dos (helps your mind know a step has been taken, especially if you feel this at night before sleeping)
- Have a ritual to close your working day
- Meditate
- Spend more time with people who give you energy, that are positive and supportive
- Spend less time with people who steal your energy
- If you’re an introvert, block out time to be alone
- Invest in “quality time” moments (from the theory of the 5 love languages)
Be part of something bigger than yourself
- Volunteer (with aiesec.)
- Work a job that feels purpose-driven
- Participate in faith-based activities (if aligned to your belief system)
One of the most common needs of our generation due to our involvement in today’s technology modern world – we are in a constant influx of sensory stimulation (bright lights, computer screens, background noise, etc).
- Simple actions as closing your eyes for a minute in the middle of the day
- Take a break from social media
- Turn off your notifications for certain hours of the day (sounds and visual alerts)
- Limit video meetings and screen time
- Set a relaxing evening ambiance (soothing music, candles, etc)
- Spend time in safe space environments with people you can be authentic around
- Remember you are more than enough!
- Seek the help of a therapist if you feel trapped to release emotional labor
- Take in a sunrise or sunset
- Go for a walk in nature
- Spend time with animals
- Visit a museum or art festival
- Engage with inspiring music, books, documentaries, etc
- Turn your workplace into a place of inspiration by displaying images of places you love or works of art
If you suffer from burnout or know someone who may be experiencing symptoms, please rest. Please seek help.
