Beating Burnout

Life is busy and stress easily piles up. Making ends meet, getting a degree, maintaining friendships: these are parts of life that often overlap, and all of them take effort. Sometimes, trying to balance it all can feel overwhelming. And sometimes, the stress that comes with trying to balance life leads to burnout.

Burnout is defined by the World Health Organization as “unmanaged, chronic workplace stress that includes: exhaustion and energy depletion; cynicism, negativity, and mental distance from your job; and reduced efficacy at your job.”

It is not considered a medical condition and realistically, any chronic, unmanaged stress can cause it, though studies typically focus on work.

People struggling with burnout often have similar symptoms to those with depression. Symptoms of burnout don’t only affect work. Exhaustion and poor sleep affect every aspect of life, from cognitive function to physical and emotional wellbeing. People suffering from burnout are typically more irritable and struggle with motivation.

Burnout is typically talked about in connection with work, but being exhausted and constantly stressed affects your entire life. Maybe work is going fine, but what about home life, relationships, and personal goals? You can’t do everything all the time, something will give eventually.

So if burnout is so pervasive, how can it be prevented or treated? Frankly, because burnout is caused by an imbalance, treating it requires a change in routine. Getting enough sleep is an important part of combating burnout. Another important part of combating burnout is setting boundaries. Depending on the workplace, that can be difficult, but setting aside time to rest when at home can be really helpful. Taking a break from social being for a bit can also help.

Another way to combat burnout is through support. Having other people you can reach out to helps relieve stress.

Life’s crazy, and it’s not always easy to take a step back. But, taking that step helps to keep you healthier in the long run.

For the Hutchinson Collegian Editoral Board.

Views: 12