Burnout Awareness & Emotional Resilience
We all have those days when our to-do lists seem to be never-ending, patience feels limited, and even doing the little daily tasks seems exhausting. But when just "getting through the day" becomes the norm over vast expanses of time, it's time to sit up and pay attention. Burnout awareness is about recognising those signs early on so that you can reset your mind (and body) before it's too late, building emotional resilience so that we can navigate our busy lives while being self-aware and more balanced.
Let's explore how to recognise burnout, build emotional resilience, and make space for a healthier way of navigating everyday life.
The signs of burnout employees often miss
One of the biggest signs of burnout is never feeling well-rested. Maybe you are jumping into one project after another at work at breakneck speed and aren't taking enough rest in between. This restlessness might also affect your sleeping patterns at night, whereby you wake up at odd hours or sleep less than usual. Sometimes, even sleeping more than usual due to exhaustion or sleeping at different times than usual can indicate a burnout. In addition to this, having zero motivation, feeling completely zapped of energy, being withdrawn by avoiding social interactions and instead opting for solo time all the time can also be sign.
Changes in eating habits might also point to burnout. An eating regimen that is different from your usual routine, where you are eating less, not eating at all, forgetting to eat, or binge-eating due to stress as opposed to hunger can be signs.
Burnout signs at the workplace can also include feeling impatient or irritable all the time, reduced motivation, an increase in mistakes at work, and often having a hard time concentrating.
The difference between stress and burnout
While stress and burnout are related, they are not the same. Stress is usually a short-term response to a situation or challenge that causes us to feel pressured or worried. However, burnout is a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion that leaves us feeling completely drained of motivation and energy. However, if you experience stress on a prolonged basis over time, it can lead to burnout.
Practical ways to protect emotional energy at work
While burnout might sometimes involve things at work that you cannot control, there are some practical ways you can protect your emotional energy and learn to cope with stress and work pressure. They include:
- Seeking the support of your boss to make changes, set realistic goals, or solve problems, as well as reach out to co-workers to talk to and seek support.
- Taking tiny breaks between work to read a few jokes, solve a puzzle, or take a walk.
- Getting regular exercise to release endorphins into your body, improve your mental health, and de-stress.
- Practising mental health techniques like mindfulness to better deal with what's happening at the workplace.
- Taking up a fun hobby, sport, or volunteer work to break away from a routine way of life and give yourself something to look forward to.
When and how to seek professional mental health support
In some cases, seeking professional help might be a good recourse to tackle burnout, especially if burnout is taking a toll on your personal relationships and affecting your quality of life. Having a safe place to talk might help with identifying the causes, exploring coping mechanisms, and navigating the challenges of life that are contributing to burnout.
Burnout isn't a badge of honour, and resilience isn't about endlessly pushing through. Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is pause and reset. Know the signs, protect your energy, and stop perpetuating unhealthy habits before your body forces you to.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Readers are advised to (i) obtain independent professional advise before making any decisions related to or arising out of this blog article (ii) carefully review their health insurance policy terms and conditions to understand their applicable coverage scope (as some benefits may or may not be applicable to you), limits, and exclusions. Sukoon Insurance PJSC does not make any representation or warranty of any kind in relation to this article/blog post including that any of the data, information, materials on this blog article are accurate, reliable, or complete. Sukoon Insurance PJSC hereby disclaims any and all responsibility or liability of any kind for any direct or indirect damages or losses of any kind caused to you in relation to or arising out of this blog article.