OVERTIRED, OVERSTRETCHED, OVERWHELMED, OVERSTRESSED
– ALL THE TIME?

If you are continually stressed and feel that you just cannot cope any more, then you may be heading for BURNOUT.

Causes of burnout

There are many causes of burnout which is a term given to excessive and ongoing stress. It is usually a used within a work context but can also apply to any situation where you feel overworked and undervalued with too many responsibilities. However your lifestyle, demands on your time, personality type attitudes, beliefs and values as well as how you see the world, all contribute to burnout.

Work-related causes of burnout

  • Feeling like you have little or no control over your work
  • Lack of recognition or rewards for good work
  • No support or guidance
  • Unclear or overly demanding job expectations
  • Doing work that’s monotonous or unchallenging
  • Working in a chaotic or high-pressure environment

Lifestyle causes of burnout

  • Working too much, without enough time for relaxing and socializing
  • Being expected to be too many things for too many people
  • Taking on too many responsibilities, without enough help from others
  • Not getting enough sleep
  • Lack of close, supportive relationships
  • Continual worry about money, family etc
  • Health issues

Personality traits can contribute to burnout

  • Perfectionist tendencies; nothing is ever good enough
  • Pessimistic view of yourself and the world
  • The need to be in control; reluctance to delegate to others
  • High-achieving, Type A personality
  • Continual worrier

You may be on the road to burnout if

  • Every day is a bad day.
  • Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy.
  • You’re exhausted all the time.
  • The majority of your day is spent on tasks you find either mind-numbingly dull or overwhelming.
  • You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated.

Warning signs and symptoms of burnout

Burnout is a gradual process that occurs over an extended period of time. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it can creep up on you if you’re not paying attention to the warning signals.

The signs and symptoms of burnout are subtle at first, but they get worse and worse as time goes on.

Physical signs and symptoms of burnout

  • Feeling tired and drained most of the time
  • Lowered immunity, feeling sick a lot
  • Frequent headaches, back pain, muscle aches
  • Change in appetite or sleep habits

Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout

  • Sense of failure and self-doubt
  • Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated
  • Detachment, feeling alone in the world
  • Loss of motivation
  • Increasingly cynical and negative outlook
  • Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment

Behavioural signs and symptoms of burnout

  • Withdrawing from responsibilities
  • Isolating yourself from others
  • Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done
  • Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope
  • Taking out your frustrations on others
  • Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early