Recovering from Burnout
What is Burnout?
Burnout involves feeling overwhelmed or unable to meet the demands of a situation which you are in as a result of prolonged exposure to it. The term 'burnout' is usually used in the context of a work environment to refer to people who have experienced the pressures or stresses of a job for a number of years and are finding themselves no longer able to cope with these stresses effectively or productively. It can for example occur in the helping professions where someone who has worked actively to help people in a caring capacity in a health or social care field of work, after a certain amount of time begins to lose their original interest, belief in or motivation for the work.
How Does Burnout Make You Feel
If you are experiencing burnout you may feel some or all of the following:
- Loss of interest and motivation
- Hopelessness
- Powerlessness
- Frustration, despair or cynicism
- Apathy and irritability
- A sense of detachment
Burnout and Stress Compared
Whilst burnout is often the result of prolonged excessive stress over a period of time, it is not the same as stress. A person who is 'burned out' may well find it difficult to cope with relatively minor stresses, either responding tearfully or irritability or feeling detached and distancing themselves from the stressful environment to avoid it. Sometimes avoidance or escape from burnout may take the form of potentially problematic behaviour such as excessive alcohol or drug use. In other cases burnout may lead to depression or extreme lack of motivation.
Avoiding Burnout
Preventative measures to avoid burnout developing can include:
- Setting realistic goals (for example in a work environment) and not forcing yourself to achieve too much. As said in the Stress Management Tips section of this website, the body is like a machine with a limited supply of energy that needs care, rest and maintenance to function properly
- Not trying to be all things to all people
- Trying to set yourself goals and things to do which you find purposeful and valuable
- Recognising and giving yourself credit for your achievements, rather than always demanding of yourself that you do more
- Eating healthily to help you avoid burnout if your body is poorly nourished and less easily to cope with stresses and pressure
Recovering from Burnout
Burnout may develop over a period of time so that you find yourself burnt out before you have even thought of it as a possibility, perhaps because when you were younger you seemed to have limitless energy or optimism and didn't anticipate being in a situation where you felt worn down and tired. If you find yourself feeling burned out then if possible try to take some simple measures to break out of the cycle of negative feelings and lack of productive energy that you may be caught in. Some options might be:
- Allow yourself at least some time out of the stressful environment to relax and unwind or do something you enjoy
- Follow basic stress management principles and minimise your use of alcohol
- Reduce the level of your tasks if possible and set yourself relatively small targets to achieve in the stressful environment - if this is difficult then you may need to consider taking a complete break from the environment - for example with a holiday
- Make a list of the options available to you in the stressful situation and decide what you want to try out. If you have difficulty thinking of purposeful creative or helpful options, then consider asking for suggestions from someone whose advice you trust, or consider coaching support to help you move forward positively and constructively.
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