We all deal with stress. Some stress is good for us as it keeps us motivated and productive. Unfortunately, when it starts to build and we feel like we are under a pile of sandbags we realize something is wrong. Our mental health starts to suffer as you carry that extra weight of stressors for a prolonged period. It leaves us feeling like we are unable to meet the demands of our jobs, relationships, and even our personal needs.
What it is –
Burnout is not a new concept. It has become an increasingly common mental health concern over the past two years,. The pandemic left us with a great deal of changes and stress. We were welcomed with the work from home movement developing a greater gap in the work-life balance. There are various situations in which one may feel burnt out. This can include dealing with covid-19, parenting, school, and workplace issues. Even children are dealing with burnout repercussions from the pandemic.
What causes it –
When the stressors in your life hang around for an extended period it can lead to burnout. Think of regular healthy stress like a cute snow flurry, and burnout being a 2-foot snowstorm making it nearly impossible it leave the house and impacting your daily activities.
The burnout buildup blurs your ability to pinpoint the cause of stress. You may be suffering from burnout if you find yourself working long hours, have an overfilled to-do list, or if you are working towards tasks that do not align with your sense of self.
As a result, we physically feel uncomfortable which causes even more distress. Some physical symptoms that we take on include headaches, fatigue, or gastrointestinal problems. The body holds on to a great deal of our stress. Mentally you may feel anxious, sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed.
How to deal –
If you are feeling burnout, first, remember that you are not alone. There are ways to recover such as taking a step back to find help. This may include support from loved ones and friends, workplace help, or profession help from a mental health counselor. It is time to make you and your mental health a priority. Try setting boundaries allowing you to take time for yourself. Reassess your needs and find what brings you joy. Make your goals reasonable and achievable. You have the chance to implement stress relief activities to build, like developing and implementing coping skills which may help alleviate stressors that you face.