Running low on energy seems like a more usual thing than ever. Chronic fatigue syndrome affects about one person out of a hundred. It influences our lives in more than one way. We always stare at computer or smartphone screens, reading tons of information during the day without realizing how much we overload our brain with things that tire us down. For example, you can find yourself reading headlines like “online casino games Canada” without any reason for it because one link leads to another, and all of that turns into a rabbit hole. Now imagine how much information goes through your brain every day.
Burnout can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of social support and a toxic work environment, chronic overwork, and a lack of control over one’s own professional life – in short, the typical characteristics of a huge corporation’s ordinary employee. Of course, any of us can have burnout, no matter where we work and what we do. The common factor in everything is the stress we feel. Unfortunately, there is no exact treatment or a recipe; you can only rely on yourself and take care of your mental health to avoid burnout.
How to Detect a Burnout?
- You feel constantly tired. Constant weariness, emotional and physical depletion are all signs that the body has no energy whatsoever. Chronic stress saps our energy to keep our bodies completely useless. If you’re exhausted after a full night’s sleep, a relaxing weekend in the woods, or even a week-long vacation, you’re experiencing burnout, which can lead to a variety of other, even more, severe diseases. As a result, if you are exhausted all of the time, you should see a doctor.
- Can’t concentrate. You can evaluate your concentration level subjectively by recalling how quickly you completed various work tasks six months ago and how well you are handling them now. Using the tomato method for work that requires concentration is another way to test the ability to focus attention. Set an alarm for 25 minutes and try to focus on the task at hand. If you can’t focus for even a few minutes, you may be on the verge of burnout. The same is true for memorization and learning issues.
- It’s difficult to start something new. Lack of motivation is a sure sign of burnout. It shows up as a reluctance to take on new projects or even go to work. The sense of anticipation for interesting tasks vanishes. Even the prospect of a raise or a financial bonus is insufficient to motivate you. You know in your head that it would be nice to start working, but you continue to put it off. One of the official symptoms of burnout described in the ICD classification is motivational exhaustion, which occurs when both defeats and successes become indifferent.
How to Deal with Burnout
The current trend is toward increased productivity. Some people are perfectly motivated by the desire to be productive, and the desire to be among the best drains all of one’s juices and leaves no time for recovery. People who not only work hard but also rest are frequently regarded as lazy or unproductive. A person who does not rest is out of balance; he cannot help himself, let alone change the world. We must accept that quality rest is the inverse of efficiency, energy, and productivity.
Remember, that it’s ok to sleep in, it’s ok not to do anything from time to time. It’s ok to lose the grip of control and just let it go. Your mental health should always come first.