Coping With The New Normal: Recognize & Prevent Burnout.
By joanna
The Show Must Go On, and So Can You.
Do you ever find yourself feeling irritable, uninspired, or mentally and physically exhausted even when you don’t feel like you’ve done much?
When we’re in the middle of a globally taxing and nerve-wracking event like the currently ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it’s understandable that the energy and mood within ourselves and the people around us won’t be as vibrant as it usually would.
In a time when the entire world is in a state of intense stress, it can feel impossible to fulfill the responsibilities you usually carry. When the show must go on, and so must we. At Minc.Care, we always advocate for self care and making sure your cup is full before you pour into others’.
Warning Signs of Burnout
You may be already experiencing burnout as you read this, but in the case that you aren’t, or are simply not sure, let’s walk through potential warning signs of burnout. Prevention is always better than cure, and awareness is key!
You have more bad days than good
Do you occasionally feel less like wanting to socialize much or ditching our usual routine are normal. Everyone is allowed to have “off-days”. However, it’s important to note a surge in bad days and a decline in good ones. If you’re accustomed to being on autopilot mode, you might not even notice when you’ve been having bad days.
Do you feel like you’ve been less patient than usual? If you’re feeling irritable or impatient (even when you’re not short of time) you could be experiencing a bad day.
Your bad days could also feel much worse. When you find yourself bursting into tears even without prior triggers, you’re potentially overwhelmed.
Caring about things feels like a waste of time
Do you find yourself no longer having the energy to invest time into your hobbies? If you suddenly feel an inability to care about things as much as you once did, you could possibly be burned out. You could also notice this in the form of being unable to enjoy things you loved.
You might see this manifested heavily in your familial roles. If you’re a mother, you may start feeling guilty for not being able to put as much into your usual tasks. If you’re a student in university, this may mean your assessments and daily duties are left undone. When your daily life and responsibilities are put on hold, this could be due to feeling burned out.
When you feel like tasks are mundane and overwhelming, practicing self-care and kindness and gentleness towards yourself is even more important.
Feeling unappreciated or unseen
One of the most important things to receive (and express) is appreciation. Regardless of how often you’ve been doing something, or how unspoken your assumed roles are, it’s still extremely important to be reminded of your value. A little gratitude can go a long way.
If you are a friend who always makes themselves available to the needs of those around you, or a stay-at-home parent who always cooks for your family, you should always feel comfortable expressing your needs, and receive the gratitude you deserve.
It can be exhausting to feel like you’re in a thankless position and can make you feel unseen and unappreciated, which can ultimately lead to burning out.
Preventing Burnout
Burnout can have drastic consequences on our social lives, emotional well-being and even physical health. Do you frequently fall sick, have an unstable sleep cycle and experience headaches a little too often? This could be an indication that you should pay attention. Ignoring warning signs of burnout may lead to louder, more permanent outcomes.
However, you don’t have to go there! We’ve got you.
Here are some of the ways you can prevent ever hitting a wall in terms of productivity, well-being and your overall health!
Reach Out
One of the first things you can do when experiencing early signs of burning out is reach out to your loved ones. It can be unnerving to go to a therapist or people who you aren’t too familiar with. You can always start small, and take mini-bites of seeking help.
Have a chat with your parents, siblings or even a trusted friend! Sometimes we forget that those who are around us love us and would happily contribute to better our emotional and physical well-being. You should always speak up when you feel like something is wrong. Sweeping things under the rug can only work for so long before you have a lumpy rug!
You can also work on building resilience with the support of your loved ones; which you can learn about on HelpGuide!
Realign Your Priorities
Sometimes, your plate can be too full with things that shouldn’t be there in the first place. You could have too much of one thing and too little of another. Realigning yourself and re-evaluating your priorities can help you free up some room in your life for things that are important. Did someone say self-care and me-time? We did!
Your priorities can be realigned by making small changes. You can start by using social media less, setting boundaries, feeding your creativity more, and allowing yourself to rest.
Rest is the vegetables of your plate; often too small of a portion of what should instead be taking up most space on our plates and made a purposeful priority.
Do you have trouble prioritizing? We provide coaching and other services you may need! Head on over to our services at MINC.Care and take your first step in the right direction!
Eat Well and Get Moving
When we discuss mental health and self-care, we often overlook exercise and food. These are arguably some of the most defining aspects of well-being.
What goes in, will come out. This applies heavily to what we feed our bodies with, too. Nourishment in means nourishment out. When you maintain a balanced diet and incorporate exercise into your routine, it will do wonders. You will feel better, sleep better and subsequently have a more well-rounded life!
Not sure where to start? Send us a message and we’ve got you!
If you are inching towards burnout, this is your reminder that you’re not alone. Be as kind and gentle towards yourself as you would to a child taking their first steps. We never stop learning, and a little grace and love can go a long way. At MINC.Care, we care. You matter. You’ve got this!
Need to know how to manage job-related burnout during the pandemic? We’ve got you covered! Click here to read about preventing burnout in the pandemic!
Article prepared by Joanna, MINC.Care