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Truth is, everyone experiences stress in a different way. However, in a fast-paced world like ours, where the demands of work, social life and personal duties can be overwhelming, it’s not hard to find ourselves experiencing burnout. The problem with burnout is it affects our well-being on different levels. That’s why here’s a guide to help you prevent burn out.
What is Burnout?
Let’s start from the beginning. Burnout is defined as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Thus, it can have serious consequences on both our quality of life and our productivity.
How to Prevent it?
Recognize the signs
The first step in preventing burnout is recognizing the signs and symptoms. Keep in mind that symptoms can vary from person to person. Yet, some of the most common include feelings of chronic fatigue, cynicism, irritability, and a lack of motivation. Pay attention to your body and mind, and don't ignore the warning signs. Acknowledging that you're feeling overwhelmed is the first step towards making positive changes.
Prioritize Self care
You’ve probably heard a lot about self-care as there’s an explosion of self care ideas on social media. Though it’s good that the concept is becoming popular, some get lost. Self care is essential for maintaining overall well-being.
It’s important to not only include self care in your daily routine, but also make it a priority. Activities like exercise, meditation, spending time in nature, pursuing hobbies, or simply taking a break to relax and recharge are great ways to release stress. Besides, remember to nourish your body with healthy food, stay hydrated, and prioritize getting enough sleep.
Find Stress Management Tools that Work for you
You can find a variety of stress management tools and techniques that can help prevent burnout. For some, breathing techniques work better. Others might prefer positive affirmations, while others value more outside activities or yoga for instance. Everyone has different needs when coping with stress, you can try a few and stick with what works best for you.
Find Meaning and Purpose
Sometimes, burnout comes out of frustration for not heading where you want. Engage in activities that align with your values and bring you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Whether it's volunteering, pursuing creative outlets, or participating in meaningful projects at work. Activities like these can help counteract feelings of disillusionment and burnout.
Reflect on what matters most to you and prioritize activities that contribute to your sense of meaning and fulfillment.
Ask for Help and Delegate Tasks
Sometimes, reducing burnout comes down to knowing how and when to ask for help.
We understand there’s a sense of independence that makes it hard to let go of duties. However, you should keep in mind that everyone needs support every now and then and it’s okay to ask for help.
Furthermore, many people want to help, so consider using delegation as a tool and assign some specific tasks or projects to people you can rely on.
We hope these simple tips will help you release stress and prevent burnout. Remember that you cannot give your 100% if you don't feel good. So prioritizing your wellbeing is a must.
