According to Jeremy Hutchings, blogger and developer with article about burnout that you can find here, burnout is a common condition experienced by many creative professionals who find themselves in situations that promote it. Burnout is not just when you need a vacation to recharge. It’s when you feel overwhelming exhaustion, frustration, cynicism and a sense of ineffectiveness and failure (Source)
Source : Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
You might be experiencing burnout if you:
- Feel that every day at work is a bad day.
- Feel exhausted much of the time.
- Feel no joy or interest in your work, or even feel depressed by it.
- Feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities.
- Engage in escapist behaviors, such as excess drinking.
- Have less patience with others than you used to.
- Feel hopeless about your life or work.
- Experience physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, sleeplessness, or heart palpitations. (Make sure that you see a physician about these!)
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However, there are some tips for you to avoid and recover from burnout :
1. Work with purpose.
Most of the time, rediscovering your purpose can go a long way towards helping you avoid burnout and keeping stress at bay.
2. Perform a job analysis, and eliminate or delegate unnecessary work.
Perform a job analysis so you can clarify what’s expected of you, and what isn’t. This tool will help you identify what’s truly important in your role, so that you can cut out or delegate tasks that aren’t as essential.
3. Give to others.
One quick and easy way to add meaning to your career is to give to others, or to help them in small ways
4. Take control, and actively manage your time.
You can avoid or overcome burnout by finding ways to create more autonomy in your role. Try talking with your boss to see if he or she is willing to let you have more control over your tasks, projects, or deadlines.
5. Get more exercise.
Exercise can help alleviate stress and create a sense of well-being. You will also experience increased energy and productivity when you exercise regularly.
6. Learn how to manage stress.
There are several strategies that you can use to cope with stress. For instance, you could keep a stress diary to document what routinely causes you stress. Practicing deep breathing, meditation , and other relaxation techniques can help you calm down when you’re experiencing stress.
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Source : Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Unfortunately, there are some people who might already are trapped in the burnout cycle and unable to resurface. Here are some quick tips that might help you in recovering from burnout :
1. Think about the “why.”
You first need to identify why you’ve experienced burnout. In some situations, this will be obvious. Other times, it will take time and introspection to uncover this.
2. Focus on the basics.
If you’ve experienced burnout, your body may be in need of attention. This is why it’s important to think about the basics of good health and well-being. Start by getting plenty of exercise, Next, make sure that you’re getting enough sleep , eating well, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
3. Take a good vacation or a leave of absence.
One good way to start your recovery is to take a real vacation . Time away from work gives you the distance you need to relax and de-stress.
4. Reassess your goals.
Start by identifying your values and thinking about what gives you meaning in your work. Then use this to craft a personal mission statement . This self-analysis will give you a deeper understanding of what you find most important, and it will show you which elements, if any, are missing from your life or work.
5. Say “no.”
Try not to take on any new responsibilities or commitments while you’re recovering from burnout.
6. Practice positive thinking.
Burnout can cause you to slip into a cycle of negative thinking. This negative thinking often worsens over time.You can combat this by learning how to think positively . Affirmations , which are positive statements about the future, also help you visualize and believe in what you’re doing.
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