How to Recover from Burnout

(547 Words)
When one cannot handle the rigors of everyday life, burnout may occur. A number of factors can contribute to this condition, including stress from one’s career, lifestyle, family, school or just general responsibilities. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include disengagement, unhappiness, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping, social isolation, anger, and more. All aspects of one’s life may suffer as he or she essentially shuts down mentally and emotionally. There are different steps which can be taken to help recover from this condition.
According to helpguide.org, the first step in burnout recovery is to slow down. You may simply “have too much on your plate.” It may feel like it is too much to handle because it literally is. For instance, if you are a working mother who has been working extra long hours at work, volunteering at your child’s school, doing all of the cleaning and cooking, taking care of an elderly parent and more, then you may need to give up some of these responsibilities for a little while. Hire someone to help with the house. Think of buting take-out food instead of cooking. Cut down your volunteer hours. Take a vacation from your job or learn to delegate. Do whatever you need to do to lower your workload. Give yourself the time you need to relax and recover. Instead of these activities do something that you find relaxing. It may be a vacation or simply reading a good book.
Getting support is the next step in burnout recovery. This may feel difficult because many with burnout want to isolate themselves. Instead you should make an effort to turn to your friends. Go out and enjoy social situations.
Another step in burnout recovery is to look at your goals and priorities to decide whether they need to be reevaluated. You may need to make changes in these. Perhaps there is something that you have been taking too seriously and is just overwhelming you. You may need to decrease its presence in your life. On the other hand, you may want to incorporate something fun or creative into your life. Think about what you truly want to do.
There are also measures that you can take when you believe that you are starting to become burned out. These can also be helpful in your recovery. First, try to find stress management techniques that can allow you to handle the difficulties life can bring. This may be something as simple as breathing and counting to ten. Incorporate relaxing routines into your day, especially first thing in the morning. This may include meditation or simply listening to relaxing music.
It is important to eat healthily, incorporate exercise into your daily routine and get enough sleep. These measures give you energy and a better ability to handle life’s challenges. Doing something fun and creative can also help you avoid burnout.
It can be difficult to recover from burnout. If you feel that you cannot do it on your own, then you may want to seek the help of a professional. A mental health counselor can help you find strategies to deal with your life and create a more positive outlook. With time, effort and a will to get better, you increase your chances of making it through this condition.