Do you feel crispy around the edges? I know when I start to feel crispy around the edges that burnout is around the corner. Burnout is something that many of us are experiencing these days. If you find yourself exhausted when you typically wouldn’t be or irritable or impatient or have brain fog or are neglecting self-care, burnout may be looming.
Symptoms of burnout include: physical and emotional exhaustion, decreased performance in the workplace, decreased performance at home or in a parenting role, reduced self-care, irritability, feeling detached and not really caring about much of anything, and difficulties sleeping. Sound like you? Read on for some practical tips on dealing with burnout.
Self-care – This takes time. You may feel like you don’t have time, but the road forward should include things like eating properly, exercising and sleep. Start slowly. Eat something for breakfast. It doesn’t need to be much. You are fueling your body for mental health. Take a break in your day and walk around the block. Exercise will help you reset. If sleep is difficult consider talking to your family doctor or naturopath. They will have suggestions for sleep.
5 More Ways to Extinguish the Burnout Fire
- Reduce expectations – Consider your expectations for yourself. Are they realistic? We can’t be all things for all people and not end up in a place where our energy is depleted. You do not need to be the perfect employee or the perfect partner or the perfect parent.
- Boundaries – Setting healthy boundaries is important. It is okay to say no. It is okay to rest. Saying no is not selfish. Taking care of yourself is not selfish.
- Manage your stress – Take some time to learn new skills to manage stress. Breathing, meditation or progressive muscle relaxation can all help.
- Support – Reach out to family and friends for support. Support doesn’t mean you have to unload all of your stress on the person. Many people don’t want to overshare or become a burden on their network because they know that everyone’s stress is high. Support can mean getting together for coffee and laughing. Support can mean going for a walk and not talking about the challenges.
- Purpose – When was the last time you looked at your values? What fills the cup up? Do more of that! Learn more about the role of personal values.
If you need help with burnout reach out to a psychotherapist or personal counsellor. They will listen and offer support and direction. Click if you would like to start a conversation about burnout with me.
Remember that we all get crispy around the edges from time to time. You don’t have to go through it alone. Book an appointment.
Listening. Guiding. Caring.
