In our increasingly work-centric climate, burnout may not be new, but it’s become an escalating issue in recent years. Ever-increasing hours and work-related stressors leave us exhausted in every respect, moody, unable to sleep well, and feeling less effective and connected both at work and at home. We also might find ourselves unfulfilled because our careers no longer provide what we initially valued from them.
The isolation of the pandemic only compounded things. Maybe we worked from the comforts of our homes, but we also obliterated the lines between home and work and lost activities and supports for our wellbeing. We spent more time on social media, often scrolling through feeds full of anger, negativity, and jealousy. Parents took on more schooling and 24/7 childcare responsibilities, teachers spent even more time managing disruptive behavior (when they weren’t teaching to unresponsive computer screens), and medical professionals dealt with longer hours, shorter staffs, and increased fear, illness, and death.
Many of us are just … tired. Irritable. Disconnected. Stuck. Bad days become bad weeks and we dread the impending new work week—if we have a break in the first place. Left alone, these feelings can become clinical depression. You can only disconnect so much before reinforcing negative cycles. But thankfully, there are positive things you can do to combat burnout.
The experts at Rosecrance recommend focusing on what you can control even when you can’t control your job. Like your own wellness. Find a spot that might be lacking—sleep, time with friends or family, a physical activity you enjoy—and find ways to incorporate or increase one of those at a time. Another important area to focus on is rest—not just sleep, but all types of rest: mental, emotional, physical, sensory, spiritual, and more (for example, constantly staring at a screen is no way to rest your senses). Finally, partner with your employer or manager to “job craft” your position. Can you get support or development for areas you may need? Or can you shift your focus to play to your strengths and get more fulfillment?
Job crafting is one example of how communication can be so vital to our wellbeing. Connection not only helps us problem solve, but it also feeds our souls just to be heard and understood. If needed, the experts at Rosecrance can provide an ear and perhaps even some ways to build back some of that resilience that’s been so worn down for a while now.
If you or someone you know is feeling burned out and doesn’t know what to do, check out episode 9 of the Rosecrance podcast “On Your Radar,” which covers why we get burned out, what it feels like, and ways to manage and avoid it.
Listen to “Burnout: When It’s Just Too Much” HERE.