You might notice that you do not enjoy your job as much as you used to. Or you could also feel extremely tired, making you unavailable to interact with your loved ones. What you might be feeling could be burnout.
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According to experts, people who regularly face stressful events or experiences might experience burnout. You might get burned out if you spend long hours at work, or when you worry a lot, or when you are caring for a sick loved one.
How Do You Know That You Have Burnout?
If you are frequently exposed to stress, you might experience a condition called burnout. But you might not know that you are feeling burnout because the symptoms are similar to exhaustion or fatigue.
You must learn to identify burnout to find ways to cope and help yourself.
The term “burnout” was used as early as the 1970s. Burnout refers to a stress condition that can lead to serious exhaustion in the mind and body.
Who Experiences Burnout?
People who experience a high level of stress are more likely to feel burnout. Professionals tasked to help, such as nurses or first responders, can experience burnout due to the nature of their jobs.
Even those who stay at home can succumb to burnout especially if they are stressed daily. A family member who takes care of an ill person or an infant is also likely to feel this condition because of the tasks they do every day.
Parents who have demanding jobs and still do major chores at home are also candidates for burnout.
Type A personalities, or perfectionists, can also feel burnout because they want everything to be under control.
Burnout is a Serious Concern
Knowing the symptoms of burnout will help you manage your condition. Don’t disregard burnout. Here are the reasons why:
- Burnout can prevent you from functioning properly. You will not be able to leave a regular life or face your daily responsibilities. The feeling of pessimism and hopelessness may prevent you from starting your day on a positive note.
- You will self-isolate. There will be times when you will be overwhelmed with the thought of being with other people, including family members. You are unable to cultivate your relationship with the others around you.
- You can lose your patience with the people around you. The feeling of burnout will cause daily tasks to be a difficult chore if things go wrong. You could get irritated as you drive to work, prepare for a meeting, or cook dinner.
- You can’t decide easily. The feeling of burnout affects your ability to weigh your options. You could impair your analytical skills.
- If you leave burnout untreated, you might develop physical and psychological illnesses. These illnesses could be diabetes, heart disease, or depression.
Prevent Burnout
Though you cannot avoid burnout, there are steps that you can take to prevent it. The first thing you can do is find the source of stress or even the factors that cause it. Next is to fight off the stress by practicing self-care. Why not try doing some exercise routines, consuming a healthy meal, or getting adequate sleep? You can also unwind after a tiring day. Watching your favorite show does not cost much and you can do it at home. You can also set boundaries between working hours and rest. Finally, you can get professional help if the stress begins to affect your quality of life.
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