Feeling burnt out and not sure what to do about it? You’re in luck! The good news is that you don’t have to suffer if you’re feeling overwhelmed, uninspired and drained! Burnout is typically described as feelings of mental and physical exhaustion, apathy, detachment and feeling unfulfilled. Burnout can make you feel out of control and defeated but there are ways to fix these feelings. From taking a vacation to diving into your passions, we’ve got 6 helpful ways to help you manage your burnout!
“Look for the Lie”
Does your work match up to your goals and passions? Do you feel like you’re not truly being yourself at work? Feeling burnt out can come from feeling bored, artificial or disconnected at work. Sheryl Hunter, author of Get Unstuck and Use It explains, “Whenever we feel burnt out, there is a truth that isn’t being told — whether that’s to ourselves or another.”
Hunter recommends, “Be willing to tell the truth about what isn’t working in your life,” says Hunter. “Be brutally honest with yourself.”
Take a Vacation
If you’re on edge, working long hours, distraught, overwhelmed and feeling frenzied it’s time to take a vacation. HR expert, consultant, and therapist Laura MacLeod, LMSWsays, “Don’t be on call. Get totally away and relax. Clear your head and relieve stress.” A vacation may seem like an obvious solution, however when you’re feeling burnt out, self-care can be the last thing on our minds. Take some time to assess whether it’s time to request some time off.
Make Some Changes in Your Life
Once you’re willing to face what’s not working in your life, you can take control and make changes to help you banish burn out. Hunter says, “Be judicious and execute the changes you identified that need to be made with intention and velocity…The clock is ticking; this is your life.”
These changes can be anything – you may need to talk to your boss about adjusting your hours, asking for time off, or having a discussion about projects and responsibilities you’d like to pursue.
Create a New Routine
Burn out can often stem from a comfortable routine or habits that we’re stuck in. Break free from routines that are causing burn out! Kayley Reed, creator of the Self-Care Sunday podcast recommends, “Get into a new routine. Establish a new normal. Disassociate your daily actions with burnout…You could change the sound of your alarm, what you eat for breakfast, your route to work, or any other aspect of your routine, and replace it with something that makes you feel energized and rejuvenated.”
Find Support
Once you’ve decided to make changes in your life, it’s important to seek out and maintain a support system who will motivate, encourage and support you! Hunter states, “If your environment doesn’t support your new life and who you’ve become, you will risk becoming burnt out and derailed again…Talk to the people that matter in your life, and let them know what changes you’ve made and how they can support you.”
Dive Into Your Passions
Being burnt out isn’t always about the amount of time you spend on your commute or the long hours at work. Sometimes burn out comes about because we’re spending a lot of time invested in a job that we’re not passionate about. If you’re spending time working on the things you love, the less likely you are to feel burnt out. Reed says, “Take time for the hobbies you used to love, and take time to discover new ones…If you’re doing the same thing over and over, try something new.”
If you’re feeling burnt out, be sure to take action ASAP. It’s best to use these tips as soon as you start to feel burnt out so that it doesn’t spiral out of control and take over your life.
