By: Justin Stilson, LPC

Burnout. It’s a word that’s been circulating the internet for quite a while now. It brings to mind images of stressed out employees slumped over their desks or leaning against a wall with their eyes closed and a painful expression on their face. The reality is… well, that kind of IS the reality. Burnout can manifest itself in different forms for different people, though.

Psychology Today defines burnout as a state of chronic stress that leads to:

physical and emotional exhaustion
cynicism and detachment
feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment

The thing to remember about Burnout is that isn’t something that just happens to someone instantly. It can be a slow and steady process. Most people who eventually experience full-fledged burnout may not realize the severity of what is happening to them until it’s full blown.

Warning signs of Burnout can vary from person to person, but there are a few common denominators that can include:

Chronic Fatigue
Anxiety
Loss of Sleep
General feeling of Pessimism
Lack of Productivity
Anger

If you think you may be experiencing these signs, you are not alone. I can remember years back, when I was beginning to experience all of these symptoms, I had to take an inventory of all the stress in my life, not just at work, and develop some strategies to help reduce it. I developed a self-care plan that including a yoga practice, meditation, limiting my alcohol consumption and I began to practice being more mindful every day. Other Self-Care options could include:

Exploring New Job Opportunities
Limiting Screen Time
Spending Time Outdoors
Volunteering
Engage in a Hobby

Working my plan is still a process for me, but I’m still working it every day.