Burnout is a real thing. It can impact every aspect of your life if you let it, from how you interact with people to how you feel about yourself. When burnout strikes, it’s hard to keep up with the demands of everyday life, let alone any greater life purpose or goals. But what does burnout actually do to your mind, body and soul? Let’s take a look.
Mind: When we get burned out, our minds can go into overdrive. We become overwhelmed by the smallest of details and worry (this can look like anxiety and or panic attacks)about things that may never happen. It can be hard to concentrate on anything because our brains are constantly running in circles as we try to make sense of the chaos around us. We become easily agitated and have difficulty calming down once we reach this state.
Burnout also can take a toll on how the brain functions, you may experience:
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty paying attention
- It’s harder to learn new things
- An increased risk of making mistakes
- Decision fatigue
According to researchers burnout can also enlarge the amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for our “fight-or-flight” response when in danger. Operating in this state increases the stress hormones released in your body, exhausting the body even more and often contributing to adrenal fatigue.
Body: Our bodies suffer when we experience burnout too. We often don’t eat enough or exercise enough, leading to an unhealthy lifestyle overall. This has a negative effect on our energy levels as well as on our physical health; fatigue sets in quickly and recovery time increases drastically. Furthermore, stress-related illnesses such as insomnia, headaches and digestive issues can also arise due to burnout.
Our bodies show us early signs of not being ok, but we have a terrible habit of ignoring the symptoms. Often we are guilty of popping a pill to make the discomfort go away, day after day (think headaches).
Soul: Of course, the soul is perhaps impacted most significantly when we’re dealing with burnout because it affects our mental wellbeing the most deeply. We may lose sight of who we are (this question alone can be super scary) and then there’s the feeling like nothing matters anymore; all our dreams and goals seem impossible or unimportant, so why even bother trying? Our inner voice becomes increasingly negative (damn that mean girl voice) until it seems like there’s no way out of this dark hole we’ve dug for ourselves. But I’m proof as are my clients that Burnout isn’t a one-way road, you can take a U-turn and live a life feeling revitalised, re-energised and totally inspired again.
Burnout can certainly take its toll on your mind, body and soul if left unchecked for too long but there are ways to combat it before it gets too severe.
- Take breaks throughout the day
- Prioritize self-care activities such as yoga or meditation
- Set realistic goals for yourself that you can achieve without feeling overwhelmed
- Surround yourself with positive people who will support you
- Focus on what really matters in life; and lastly
- Don't forget to have fun!
With these tips in mind, hopefully, you won't have to check out of your job before you've had time to properly check in!
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by your job that it seems like the only way to escape it is to change your career altogether? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, almost everyone experiences burnout at some point in their careers. But while changing jobs can seem like an attractive solution, it isn’t always the best one. Let’s take a look at why changing jobs might not be the best idea and what else you can do to avoid burnout.
The “Grass is Always Greener” Syndrome
It can be tempting to assume that switching to a new job will solve all of your problems and make life easier. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Most times, the problems that caused you to experience burnout in one job are likely still present in your next job—just with different faces and names attached. This is what many people refer to as the “grass is always greener” syndrome. You think that by switching jobs, things will be better or easier but they usually aren’t!
The Risk of Job Hopping
Changing jobs often comes with risks as well—particularly if you change too frequently. Employers don't always look favourably on someone who changes jobs every few months because they may view it as a sign of instability or lack of commitment. And this could lead them to question whether or not they can trust you with important tasks or projects in their own organisation. Furthermore, frequent job-hopping can also become expensive and impact the number of holidays you can affordably take in a year.
Better Alternatives than Job-Hopping
Instead of jumping ship every time things get difficult, try exploring some options within your current role first before making any drastic changes. For example, speak with your manager about taking on additional responsibilities or working from home part-time if that's something feasible for both parties involved (and legal). Also consider talking with co-workers about ways to manage stress more effectively or even joining an employee resource group where you can connect with people who have similar interests and experiences as you do! This type of support system can help create a sense of community which leads to increased morale and productivity in the workplace overall - something we all need right now!
Do the Inner Work that you’re avoiding
The reality is when you shine a light on yourself the good, bad and ugly (we’ve all got a mean girl/boy inside of us) it’s fricken uncomfortable. We don’t like discomfort, so we do our utmost to avoid it by deploying a variety of avoidance strategies. These strategies can range from working long hours, to over eating, consuming larger quantities of coffee, wine, beer, over exhausting ourselves through binging Netflix and more. Ladies you also use shopping as a way to self-soothe when life gets tough. Hey, no judgement here, remember I’ve been where you are.
Burnout can be simply avoided by doing the inner work, that means looking at your habits, behaviours, beliefs and how you show up in your own life. It means changing your inner narrative, focusing on what’s working and being kind and compassionate to yourself. But for most of us doing this work sounds all too hard, so we jump from one job to another and wonder why Burnout is following us around like a bad smell.
Reality is burnout happens—it's just part of life. But instead of running away from it by jumping into another job without really thinking through the consequences, try exploring options within your current role first before making any drastic changes and remember that there are better alternatives than just job-hopping! Do your own inner work and set yourself free to live a true freedom lifestyle. With a little bit of thoughtfulness and creativity, you can find ways to reduce stress levels without having to leave your current company entirely. After all, sometimes staying put can be beneficial too!
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
If you’ve ever caught yourself asking, “What’s the point?” after a long day at work, you may be experiencing burnout. Burnout is emotional, physical and mental fatigue caused by extended periods of stress and overwork. It can leave employees feeling hopelessly overwhelmed, unmotivated, and unfulfilled.
Unfortunately, burnout is a huge problem in the workplace that can lead to decreased productivity, poor performance, and even employee turnover. Keep reading to learn more about how to spot burnout in your team and what you can do to prevent it from happening.
Signs of Burnout
Burnout manifests itself in different ways for each individual. However, there are some common red flags that suggest someone may be struggling with burnout.
- difficulty concentrating
- mood swings
- changes in sleep patterns (yawning more often)
- appetite modified (eating more or less, change in types of foods eating)
- caffeine increased
- wanting to isolate yourself
- feeling negative and cynical
- questioning how you fit in
Then there are the physical symptoms:
- headaches
- digestive issues
- loss of motivation or enthusiasm for work-related tasks
- general feelings of exhaustion or apathy
- illness’s more frequently.
If you notice any of these signs in your team members, it’s important to take action right away in order to prevent further damage down the line. Consider implementing some of the strategies outlined below to help reduce stress levels and create a healthier work environment for everyone involved.
Strategies for Prevention
The best way to combat burnout is prevention!
- Make sure every employee has regular access to mental health resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) or Mental Health First Aiders
- Encourage team members to take regular breaks throughout the day and encourage them to use their paid time off if necessary.
- Talk openly about stress management techniques like meditation, breathing or exercise and be sure to recognise their accomplishments often so they know their hard work is valued!
- Ensure to give clear instructions and feedback and reward team members equally.
Finally, create an environment that values collaboration over competition; this will help foster a sense of community among your team members rather than a culture where everyone is competing against one another for recognition or rewards.
No one should have to suffer from burnout. Fortunately, managers have the power to recognise the signs early and take steps towards prevention before it becomes too late! By providing resources for mental health support and creating an environment that values collaboration instead of competition – managers can create a space where their team members feel supported and motivated without having to worry about burning out on the job. Don’t wait until it's too late – start taking action now!
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
Perfectionists, we all know them. They are the "A" students who take every task to the extreme, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. But while they strive for excellence, they often overlook the consequences that come with that level of dedication—namely burnout. That's right; high performers who are perfectionistic are more susceptible to burnout than those who are content with their work and performance. Let’s take a look at why this is and what managers can do about it.
The Why Behind It All
Perfectionists tend to be incredibly hard on themselves and expect results that are far beyond most people's expectations—even their own. This can lead them down a path of overworking themselves and not allowing for any flexibility when it comes to mistakes or failure.
I remember when my daughter was studying to be a nurse. Like a lot of students, she would leave things to the last minute (I always wondered if this was due to procrastination or a fear of not getting it right - perfectionism?). She’d pull an all-nighter to ensure she had everything just right. Upon submission of her essay or assignment, she would then beat herself up and worry that she wasn’t going to get a good grade. When in reality she always got top marks.
This type of mindset usually leads to people working long hours, taking on too many tasks at once, and having an unrealistic view of what their job entails in terms of time commitments and productivity. As you can imagine, this type of pressure is unsustainable and eventually leads to burnout.
In addition, perfectionists rarely ask for help or delegate tasks because they feel like they should be able to take care of everything by themselves due to their self-imposed standards. This inability to ask for help or delegate tasks also contributes to burnout as well as feelings of loneliness because perfectionists don't feel like anyone else understands their situation or could possibly do a better job than they could do themselves.
What Managers Can Do About It
What you need to know is perfectionism is a learnt skill, we weren’t born like this! Perfectionism is inherited by observing others or having lived with or been around someone with extremely high expectations in our early years. As adults we rarely check if such a trait is of value and benefit to us, or notice that it can hinder us in the workplace. Because we created this, it can be uncreated, you just need to know how to do this.
While it may seem like there is no solution for perfectionist high performers this isn’t actually the case. Employees can seek support to help them modify their expectations and behaviour, therapy such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnotherapy are great ways to bust perfectionism.
There are steps that managers can take in order to prevent burnout from happening in the first place. The most important step is simply being aware that these employees need extra support when it comes to managing their workloads and expectations. Managers should encourage employees who exhibit signs of perfectionism (long hours, micromanaging) by setting realistic expectations and deadlines as well as providing positive reinforcement when goals are achieved—no matter how minor those goals may seem at first glance. Additionally, managers should provide resources such as one-on-one coaching sessions or workshops on effective communication skills so that employees can learn how best to manage their workloads without trying to do it all alone. Doing so will allow them to make use of existing resources rather than continually relying on themselves only which can lead them down a path towards overworking themselves into oblivion (aka burnout).
High performers who are also perfectionists have a tendency towards overworking themselves which can lead them towards burnout quickly if left unchecked. While this seems unavoidable at times, managers should be mindful of these tendencies in order to counteract them with realistic expectations and deadlines as well as providing positive reinforcement when goals are met—no matter how small they seem at first glance! By doing this, businesses will ensure that their high-performing employees remain productive instead of burning out due to excessive pressure put upon them by themselves or others within the organisation.
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
When it comes to burnout, we often think of it as something that just happens to us. We can’t control how much stress is in our lives or how hard we’re working, so why should we be responsible for our own burnout? I call BS on this! The truth is, there is something you can do to prevent burnout: firstly, you can build and maintain your resilience levels. Think of it like a bank account; the more money (resilience) you put in, the less likely you are to overdraw (burnout).
What Exactly Are Resilience Levels?
Resilience levels refer to the ability of individuals and organisations to cope with change and adapt when necessary. It involves developing strategies for dealing with stress, managing time and energy, establishing healthy boundaries between work and life, and learning from mistakes.
There are several ways that managers can help their employees build resilience levels. First, they can provide clear expectations on what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. This allows employees to plan ahead and anticipate any potential issues that might arise. Second, managers need to provide regular feedback on performance so that employees can adjust their goals and expectations as needed. Finally, managers are responsible for encouraging employees to take breaks throughout the day so they have time for self-care activities such as exercising, breathing or meditating.
How Do Resilience Levels Affect Burnout?
Burnout is caused by prolonged periods of high stress without adequate recovery time or resources. As a result, individuals begin to experience physical and emotional exhaustion, which leads to feelings of detachment from their job or workplace and flows over into their personal lives. By building up resilience levels before burnout occurs, individuals will be better able to handle stressful situations without becoming overwhelmed or disengaged from their work. Having stronger resilience levels will also help individuals bounce back after experiencing difficult situations at work or in life more quickly than they would if they had no reserves of resilience left in the “bank”.
Taking control of your own burnout is not only possible but essential for your well-being. By prioritising the development and maintenance of your resilience levels, you can effectively combat the negative effects of prolonged stress. Remember, resilience is the equivalent of your bank account it requires regular deposits to prevent burnout from overdrawing your resources. So, what steps will you take today to invest in your resilience? How can you incorporate strategies for stress management, time and energy allocation, and work-life balance into your daily routine? Embrace the power within you to prevent burnout and thrive in both your professional and personal life.
If you feel like you need extra support in making these changes, don't hesitate to reach out. Book in a time to chat with Hana or follow her on: Facebook Instagram or LinkedIn
