5 Signs That You're Burned Out
Burnout has become one of the buzzwords for
the 21st century. People from all walks of life are talking
about burnout and its impact. Those who experience burnout report a loss of
enthusiasm, feelings of pessimism, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.
These feelings can show up in a work or home environment, or both.
Research tells us that burnout negatively
impacts both mental and physical health – and that the problem is widespread. A
2007 study from the American Psychological Association revealed that 75% of
Americans suffer from stress-related symptoms, both physical and psychological,
in any given month.
Does any of this ring a bell? If you’re
concerned that you may be suffering from burnout, here are 5 signs to look for
(complete with handy acronym):
o
Pain – Multiple recurring physical symptoms like headaches, stomach
aches, muscle aches
o
Anger – Feeling angry and irritable
o
Indifferent – Loss of motivation, drive, and interest
o
Negative – Feeling pessimistic, cynical
o
Tired – Physical and emotional fatigue
If you’re not sure but concerned, take a
moment and, using the PAINT acronym, think about your level of stress at home,
work, school, and social settings.
If you believe you are burned out, you may
want to seek professional help. See your family healthcare provider or a mental
health specialist if any of the PAINT symptoms have been present for more than
two weeks and if the symptoms have impaired your ability to function normally.
No matter what, you should evaluate your level of self-care: how well are you
taking care of yourself and your personal needs?
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel
your self-care routine is lacking. Most of us leave plenty of room for
improvement in this department. If you have no idea how to improve your
self-care practices, start by focusing on these main areas: exercise,
mindfulness, sleep, socialization, and nutrition.
Research has shown that healthy habits in
these areas can have both physical and mental benefits.
To combat burnout, here are specific
practices in each of the 5 key self-care areas:
o
Exercise – at least 30-minutes per day (it’s
okay to break it down into smaller blocks of time)
o
Mindfulness – at least 10-minutes per day
(consider using an app as there are many available)
o
Sleep – set and abide by a regular bedtime
even on the weekends
o
Socialization – connect with family and/or
friends daily
o
Nutrition – eliminate processed foods and
keep a food diary
Be careful not to pick and choose from this
list – do your best to implement all five of these wellness
practices to improve your wellness and decrease your level of stress. Keep
PAINT in mind when you feel stressed and put your wellness practices into
action.
Source: WebMD
No comments:
Post a Comment