You may be experiencing burnout if you have been calling in sick at work a
lot, not wanting to do your work, being irritable at work or going home exhausted.
Burnout is long-term stress from physical or emotional exhaustion. It is most
often related to work situations however any stressful situation such as family
or volunteer work may cause burnout. There may be many needs and demands placed
upon you which can cause burnout.
Being responsible for critical decisions, dangerous work situations, repetitive
or boring work, long work hours, a change in shifts or long-term care taking
are just a few examples of situations that can foster burnout.
Do you feel emotionally
exhausted, like you just cannot give any more of yourself than you already
have? Do you feel depressed or discouraged about what you are doing at work
or at home? Do you treat friends, family, customers, clients or patients like
objects? Are you feeling more cynical, callous, or negative? If you answered "Yes," you
may be burned out.
Here are a few things you can do to stop the burnout:
- Sit down and identify three major ways you could improve your job or home
situation. Write them down and list the steps you need to take to make the
changes and commit to making those changes.
- Set aside extra
work, projects, and volunteer time for a few months to give yourself a
break and learn to just say "No."
- Commit to some form of recreation or exercise daily such as taking a walk,
riding a bike, throwing a Frisbee, playing golf or just other fun activities.
- Write down 15 small things that give you pleasure and pick one each day
and do it. You could read a book, take a nap, visit a friend or go see a
movie.
- Each day when you wake up and just before you go to sleep, focus on one
thing you are grateful for.
- Do something out of the ordinary such as a surprise picnic or a moonlight
hike to get you out of your current rut.
- Yoga, deep breathing or other relaxation techniques are worth trying.
- You should eat a well-balanced diet, and take a multi-vitamin and mineral
supplement daily.
- You should avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.
Life is too short to let it get you down so take control and evaluate your
situation. Try to change what you can and accept what you cannot change. If
you still feel despondent, then reach out and get help. Contact your family
physician or contact St. Rita's Call A Nurse at (419) 226-9000 or (800) 437-4827.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change
as new health information becomes available. The information provided is
intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional
medical evaluation, advise, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Source: McKesson Health Solutions, LLC. VRS# 5132.
