A report has found that 76% of UK employees experience moderate-to-high or high levels of stress.
This alarming statistic sheds light on an important issue that affects many individuals in the workforce. Burnout can affect anyone regardless of their job or industry, and if left unaddressed, it can have serious consequences to employees and businesses.
That’s why we find it extremely important for any working individual to recognise signs of burnout and find a solution to it.
What Is a Burnout?
Burnout is known as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion, typically occurring due to long-term stress. It’s not just a type of stress that eventually goes away, but rather, the complete opposite. It doesn’t go away on its own and can even worsen if you don’t address the underlying cause of it.
Ignoring signs of burnout can only cause further harm to you, so it’s important to look out for it.
Signs of Burnout
According to Mental Health UK, these are the common signs of burnout:
- Feeling tired or drained most of the time
- Feeling helpless, trapped and/or defeated
- Feeling detached/alone in the world
- Having a cynical/negative outlook
- Self-doubt
- Procrastinating and taking longer to get things done
- Feeling overwhelmed
Ideally, you want to identify potential symptoms of burnout as early as possible so you can take necessary steps to find a solution before it gets worse. Early signs of burnout include the following:
- Exhaustion
- Loss of enthusiasm for work
- Reduced work performance
- Worry and anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Physical burnout symptoms (headaches, migraine, back pain, skin problems, etc.)
- Irritability and mood swings
What To Do If You’re Burnt Out
Find Out the Cause
This first step might not sound appealing to you but the key to relieve burnout is to identify its cause. Have you been working so much with very little rest? Have you taken on more responsibilities?
Once you identify the cause, you can try to find simple solutions to help with it.
Manage Your Time
Learning how to manage your time effectively can help you to set boundaries on what time you spend on work or for other people, and what time you spend for yourself. It’s important to find the right work-life balance and managing your time can help you do just that.
If you need more tips and help on time management, you can read more here.
Learn To Say No
You might feel burnt out because you’ve been accepting more responsibilities than what you can handle. If that’s the case, you might have to learn to say no as taking on too many tasks can do you more harm than good.
Learn To Ask for Help
Just as you need to learn how to say no to others, you also need to learn to ask for help. Don’t pressure yourself to do things by yourself, especially when you’re already overwhelmed, when you can lessen your workload by simply asking for assistance.
Find Ways to Relieve Stress
It’s important to find the time to do things that you enjoy and can relieve your stress. It can simply be going out for drinks or staying at home and ordering your favourite takeout.
A great example would be to explore hobbies you enjoy that you can do on your free time. Hobbies are perfect as stress-relievers, and it can even improve your mental health.
Take A Break
Sometimes you just need to take a break from all your responsibilities in life – and you deserve it! If you’re looking for a sign to take some time off work, this is your sign. Simply taking a time off or going on a vacation can already have a significant effect to your burnout.
Seek Professional Help
If you need more help to manage your burnout, you can go to a doctor or a counsellor. Experts can give you the best options for your situation. You can go to the National Health Service website for more mental health resources, or to contact a professional.
Conclusion
Recognising burnout and taking proactive steps to combat it is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and well-being. By identifying the signs early and implementing strategies to address burnout, individuals can regain a healthy outlook towards work and enjoy more fulfilling, productive lives. Remember, addressing burnout is not a sign of weakness but a proactive step toward a happier, healthier future.
