Teetering on the Edge of Burnout
Burnout is a strange thing. It doesn’t just ‘hit’ you and suddenly you ‘have it’. Burnout is something that sneaks up on you and can hang about threatening to overcome you for months or sometimes years. You can be vividly aware that Burnout is lingering somewhere in the background as you continue to do the struggle that is your working life. You can try to avoid it, or outrun it but it always manages to catch up with you. When you realise that Burnout is a real threat for you, it is terrifying.
Most of us can’t afford the time to endure Burnout. We are too busy trying to manage our work, our family, our commitments and trying to fit in our stress management activities that are always on the end of our ‘to do’ list. Who has time for burnout when we have so much to do? Interestingly, I have noticed that when burnout is lurking in the background, instead of slowing down prioritising self-care (supposedly the antidote for burnout), most of us just go faster and faster through all the things we have to do. It is as if the closer burnout gets to taking over our bodies, the less control we have about managing our stress levels. Ignoring it doesn’t work because you can only keep up the charade that you are coping for so long, and then you cannot ignore it anymore.
The pressure that so many of us face day to day is enormous. When you have burnout lurking in the background it just puts another layer on the burden that we carry. For most of us, turning around and facing burnout head-on is too confronting. We think things like, “what will people think of me?”, or “will my boss just think I am faking it?”, or “who will keep the show on the road at home if I succumb to burnout”. For most of us the thought of allowing ourselves to drop some of the balls we have in the air is just unthinkable.
But, sometimes it is necessary. Burnout is the body’s way of saying “enough is enough. You have put me under too much pressure and despite the warning signs I have been sending, (like trying to slow you down with your weakened immune system and allowing you to catch a cold), you still persisted at an unsustainable pace”. Burnout can look very different from person to person. For most though, it commonly means a forced slowing-down. Sometimes it presents first as a physical illness, such as a bad flu, but then recovery is not as quick as it should be and you begin to realise there is something more happening. Most commonly burnout causes extreme fatigue that cannot be relieved by a quiet weekend, or even a weeks holiday. When you get to the stage when you can’t outrun burnout anymore, it is time to sit up and listen. People find themselves saying such things as, “just hang in there a little bit longer- you can do it”, or “you just need to wait until after Christmas, or after so and so comes back from holidays”. The reality is there is no convenient time to experience burnout. It happens when it happens, and when it does- you need to stop and take all the time you need to recover.
Unfortunately, when you are teetering on the edge of burnout your energy levels are low, your judgement is tainted and your ability to step back and realise what is happening is seriously compromised. It is difficult to make decisions and making a plan to deal with burnout, while you are experiencing it, is near-on impossible. That is when it is imperative to surround yourself with your support network and get some professional help. There is nothing to be ashamed about. Burnout can happen to anyone and it doesn’t mean you are weak. It doesn’t mean you are lazy. It doesn’t mean you are seeking attention. It means you have been working your body too hard and it is exhausted. Don’t force yourself to keep going. Research shows that the longer we ignore the signs of burnout and keep pushing ourselves, the more likely it is that we will experience a more severe physical illness. Of course, none of us want that.
So, when you allow yourself to stop and recover it is imperative that you tune in to what your body needs. Some people will feel the need to withdraw from wider society and just focus on their loved ones. Some people will want to escape and just be alone for a short period of time. Some will just want rest. Some will want to nurture themselves with gentle exercise and nourishing food. Allow yourself to explore what you need and allow yourself to heal.
Things you Need When Recovering From Burnout
Quiet time- allow yourself to spend time alone, without the distraction of devices. Really explore what it is that you need in order to heal.
Spend time in nature- be outdoors, enjoy the sun on your face, the grass or sand between your toes- whatever it is that makes you feel alive.
Nurture your body- by indulging in a soothing massage, enjoy nourishing food, meditate or take a gentle yoga class.
Ensure you allow others to help, if needed- when you are exhausted often the smallest task is challenging. Allow supportive friends or family to assist you. You would no doubt do the same for them, if they were in a similar situation.
Stay connected with your GP or other professional support.
I am very keen to tell you that burnout is not the end of the game. Burnout teaches you vital lessons that you need to learn about how to look after the body you have. Burnout forces you to stop and re-evaluate your life. It often is a catalyst for bringing very positive changes into your life. For some people burnout forces them to make a career change. For others burnout brings them into contact with hobbies or self-care activities that they never would have tried, that ultimately turn out to be exactly what they want to be doing. Burnout can bring couples and families closer, by allowing people to better understand the needs of their loved ones. Experiencing burnout, and recovering from it, is a journey that can lead to the most amazing insights into yourself as a person and ultimately will lead you to more fulfilment in your life. After it is all over many people look back at the time they experienced Burnout and are grateful that it happened because it forced them to thoroughly re-evaluate what is important, it allowed them grow as a person and recognise what is important in life.
If you feel you are ‘Teetering on the Edge’ of Burnout, or want to avoid getting there, Monica at Balance Wellbeing can assist.