posted: Oct 18, 2021
Time to Read: 3 minutes
It’s not uncommon to hear people stating that they are feeling burned out, especially since we entered into a pandemic. We are collectively more burned out than we have ever been. There have been many reports of people who are struggling to feel hopeful and experience joy in their lives. People are generally more irritable and less compassionate.
What is burn out?
Burn out is the experience of mental, emotional, or physical exhaustion that tends to stem from periods of prolonged stress. For example, providing care for an elderly parent who has been diagnosed with dementia is challenging. It becomes more challenging if you are also working a full time job, while caring for your parent. As your parent’s mental capacity continues to decline, the extent to which you will need to help your parent increases. If you do not take care of yourself throughout this process, this situation can escalate to the point where you become burned out. You can easily become so consumed with the necessary tasks associated with your job and with providing care for your parent, that you forget to do the things necessary to maintain your mental health.
If you are finding yourself feeling more irritable, dreading going to work, or just feeling exhausted, chances are that you are burned out. Here’s four questions to ask yourself that may help you manage burnout.
1. Do you feel a sense of purpose?
If your job is not making you feel purposeful, it may be time to consider a change. It is so easy to get caught up in the type of lifestyle your job provides for you, while forgetting about the impact its having on your mental health.
2. What are your current choices saying about your motivation?
There are times when we start to run on autopilot. The decisions that we make during those times are often made out of necessity. Imagine what kind of decisions you would be making if you had a clear goal in mind and all of your decisions were directed at getting your closer to your goal.
3. Am I being challenged?
It is not uncommon to feel as though you are going through the motions. When you begin to feel that your life is repetitive and detached, it might be time to reconsider which areas are leaving your feeling unfulfilled. Experiencing some sort of challenge regularly can help you to feel more engaged and in tune with what’s going on in your life.
4. Do you have good relationships in your life?
Part of what makes us feel fulfilled in life is having quality relationships in our lives. They are the solid base upon which the rest of your life is built. Rocky, unhealthy relationships have the power to make your life miserable. On the other hand, healthy, empowering relationships have the power to enhance and uplift your life.
Take some time to evaluate your life and what you want out of it. Your answers to these questions can help you to improve your quality of life.
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Next week’s blog: Balance