Burnout: When You Just Can’t Anymore

We all dread it and we all try to avoid it – Burnout. 
 
Burnout can happen when we feel overwhelmed, unappreciated, and unmotivated.
 
According to Health Guide, “Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, which can occur when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.” Contrary to belief, burnout isn’t something that can happen overnight, but gradually builds up into tension. Personally, burnout starts with extreme exhaustion, brain fog, forgetfulness, and then manifests into physical illnesses like a cold or the flu. Every person experiences burnout in a different way and it is important that we notice early symptoms of burnout to avoid further consequences to your physical and mental health. Other signs of burnout consist of (but are not limited to) are exhaustion, unproductivity, trouble sleeping, symptoms of depression, “drowning,” fatigue, irritability, and isolation.

According to one of Breakthrough’s staff psychotherapists, Marissa Mangione, MS., MHC-LP, “everyone experiences burnout in all areas of life and it’s valid to feel burnt-out. When I feel burnout, I like to reach out to friends or change my environment and I like to treat myself!”  

There are many causes of burnout, which include feeling burnout from a job, from a lifestyle, or from a personality trait: 
 
Personality traits that can contribute to burnout:

• Having perfectionistic tendencies
• A pessimistic perspective 
• Feeling the constant need to be in control 

Job-related causes of burnout:

• Feeling micromanaged
• Lack of recognition or reward for good work
• Unclear or overly demanding job expectations
• Experiencing working in a monotonous or unchallenging environment
• Experiencing working in an overstimulating or high-pressure environment

​Lifestyle causes of burnout:

• Not prioritizing enough time for socializing or relaxing
• Lack of supportive relationships
• Taking on too many responsibilities, without any delegation or enough help from others
• Not getting enough sleep

 
Some Ways to Tackle Burnout

• Surround yourself with a good support system or people who are closest to you
• Limit consuming negative content and limit contact with negativity 
• Take time off for yourself
• Set boundaries
• Implement healthy sleep hygiene 
• Rediscover your values
• Engage in a hobby
• Practice self-care and mindfulness
• Practice self-compassion