10 Ways to Prevent Yourself From a Burnout

 

Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion. It can pull the life out of you, and remove any happiness within your life. Continual burnout not only affects the person experiencing it, but it can reflect back to that person’s family.

Whether you are the sole caretaker for an adult family member, dealing with the stressful situations of the modern world, or simply working long hours means you can experience burnout. Despite this, you may feel exhausted, but not realize that you are suffering from burnout. This is why it is essential to prevent burnout before it happens.

Emotional connection and fulfillment are incredibly important. This means that you need to make time for friends outside of the workplace.

You might be thinking “but I spend time with my significant other”. This is important too, but it is also important to set aside time with your friends.

Watch a movie, go for a walk, grab a meal, or even plan for a trip. Stay active and social to mix up the monotony of everyday life and avoid burnout.

As we get older it seems that many of us stop practicing instruments, hobbies, and sports. Why is this? For one, as adults, we need to go to work and have responsibilities. Despite this, picking a hobby that is entirely different than what you normally do is a great way to avoid burnout. This allows you to relax your mind and pursue something you have always wanted to try!

Consider a hobby you tried once and never followed through with. This might be reminiscent of the golf clubs in your attic, or the paint set you got at the art store one weekend.

Many people look at exercise as a chore, but it can be a huge help when it comes to avoiding burnout. Rather than using food to soothe yourself when dealing with stress, head to the gym instead. If you aren’t a fan of traditional gym settings, then you can go out for a run.

Not only will exercising make you feel good about yourself, but it will give you biological endorphins that are scientifically proven to make you happy. Exercising can also help to keep anxiety at bay when it comes to your health.

If you feel yourself approaching a burnout, one of the best things you can do is to step outside of yourself and give to others. Find an organization that means something to you. This might be a local soup kitchen, food bank, or boy and girls club. Do a bit of research, give someone a call, and they will be sure to have space for you. You will forget all about your stress as you meet new people and help others in need.

Journaling can help you to reflect inward. Maybe you have lost your purpose, or simply need to reinvigorate your life. Take each morning or night to journal and get back to that purpose. This process can help you focus on your intentions, and step back to examine your life as a whole. It is sure to keep you centered and calm.

If you are struggling in any aspect of your life, sometimes you might just need a little bit of help. This can be any form of help, whether that is monetary, physical, or even emotional help. We all need someone to lean on at one point or another. If you are someone who struggles with asking for help, then you may need it more than you think. It is not embarrassing to ask for help, and it might just save you from burnout.

Lists are helpful in order to understand what is bothering you. You can make a list of the things that are stressing you out or driving you crazy. You might also make a list of the different responsibilities you have. This can allow you to see them all side by side, and provide you the ability to plan out your time.

Starting your day early allows you to slow down and avoid rushing. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier than usual. Eat a healthy breakfast, slow down, and enjoy your morning. This way you won’t be rushing out the door either. You can slowly wake up even earlier and add more time to your morning. This will provide you with something to look forward to each morning, and may even help you fall asleep earlier as well.

It is easy to put blame on the other people in your life. Whether that is your boss, partner, friend, or even the bus driver. Although it can be feel good to have someone to blame, this is not always healthy.

For example, the bus driver may have been a few minutes late, but if you would have been early to the previous bus then you would have avoided that situation. The best way to avoid getting weighed down and stressed out is to take responsibility for your own actions. Change what you can, and accept the rest.

Accountability is important, and sometimes you may not realize that you are pushing yourself into burnout. Be sure to be accountable and continue to work on yourself daily. Focus on taking steps to move forward, and understand what you are doing right, but also what you can improve on. Be honest with yourself and always avoid making excuses.

Avoiding burnout is easier for some than others, but it is a matter of regularly checking in with yourself. Be sure to put a focus on avoiding burnout by being vigilant and working on yourself. Make time for yourself, make time for friends, or learn a new hobby. Whatever you do, be sure it allows you to relax your mind and de-stress to avoid burnout.