Burnout

Burnout can be defined as the physical, mental or emotional exhaustion that is a result of prolonged stress. This can be manifested in many different ways which can include; irritability, lack of enjoyment or interest, helplessness, fatigue, sleeping difficulties, and changes in mood. Feeling burnout typically stems from our job, school or sport. If we do not routinely practice self-care then we are more likely to experience burnout at some point. When working with clients who are or have experienced burnout I use the following analogy to help better explain.

Think about your car that you drive. What would happen to it if you never did any repairs to it? What if you never changed the tires or had an oil change? What if you never filled it with gas? If you do not stop to refuel or to take the necessary care of it, the car will break down and will not run anymore.

How to combat burnout

Self-care is crucial in working to prevent burnout, it is also a foundational component that I work on with clients in sessions. What self-care might look like for me could be much different than what it looks like for you. Some ways that we can practice self-care are quick and simple like going for a walk or making a bowl of ice cream for ourselves. Others ways might take longer and might be more difficult like setting boundaries and saying “no” to others. Below is a short list of ways that you can practice self-care.

• Prioritizing and getting the proper amount of sleep

• Setting boundaries or saying “no”

• Taking breaks from screen time

• Reading a book

• Exercising (taking a walk, going for a run, lifting weights, etc.)

• Journaling

• Listening to music

• Going to therapy