Let’s Talk About Burnout
Burnout, what is it? The dictionary defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration: to cause to fail, wear out, or become exhausted especially from overwork or overuse.”
That sounds unhealthy and harmful, but I see and hear people wear burnout as a badge of honor. This badge is the myth that if we work extra hours, skip breaks, forgo vacations, and never say no, it will equal success. But at what cost? Our mental and physical health and other life task areas are being sacrificed.
Our bodies are constantly working to keep us alive. Its response to prolonged stress is to switch our nervous system into overdrive, which leads to burning our body out. following are some symptoms that your mental and physical health are being negatively impacted by burnout:
Depression
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Emotional instability
Hair loss
Digestive issues
Headaches
Sleep troubles
High blood pressure
Just to name a few
Using an Adlerian approach, there are 5 life task areas: Work, Love, Social, Spiritual, and Self. When we put too much energy into one area we start to feel unbalanced, which leads to burnout. I describe it to clients as riding a unicycle while juggling 5 balls. When one starts to grow bigger than the others you lose balance and fall off. Falling off the unicycle looks different for everyone, it is typically a combination of the symptoms listed above.
Tips for managing Burnout:
Acknowledge it
Utilize a stress reduction behavior
Set boundaries
Move your body
Get a sleep routine
Daily life stress is normal but burnout is not. Take some time to look at your life task areas and ensure you are putting equal energy into each. Finding balance, feeling joy, and being present is the real formula for success.
Caitlin Hart LCPC NCC