What is burnout?

Burnout

If you feel like you may be burned out, you are not alone.  Half of UK employees say they’ve experienced at least one characteristic of burnout.  Burnout leaves many people feeling exhausted, disillusioned and even helpless during their career.  The good news is burnout is treatable and you can recover. However, burnout often requires professional support.

What is burnout?

Mental Health UK define burnout as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion.  It can occur when you experience long-term stress in your job, or when you have worked in a physically or emotionally draining role for a long time.

While burnout has long been a workplace issue, numbers spiked during the pandemic. Amid lockdowns, caring responsibilities and a national emergency, global data shows more workers reported feeling chronic stress and exhaustion. An increase in hybrid working, which can afford greater flexibility and autonomy, has often led to longer workdays. Some experts believe the cost-of-living crisis will add to anxiety and stress levels.

Symptoms of burnout

How do you know if you are experiencing burnout, some of the signs of burnout are:

·         Fatigue - Feeling tired or exhausted most of the time.

·         Insomnia – Struggling to fall asleep or staying asleep.

·         Lack of concentration / forgetful.

·         Anxiety & depression.

·         Feeling helpless or trapped.

·         Isolation - Feeling alone and detached from friends and family.

·         Having a cynical / negative outlook.

·         Self-doubt.

What can you do to help to aid your recovery?

There are actions you can take to help reduce the symptoms of burnout.  The appropriate action will often depend on how severe your symptoms are.  The fastest way to recover from burnout is rest however, sometimes when you are in the grip of burnout, it is hard to see how you can do this. it is also important to consider the root causes of your burnout so you can start to change your relationship with work and put prevention strategies in place.

To help your physical and mental health during this time, it is important to consider:

·         Support – As burnout can make you feel disconnected and lonely, spending quality time with friends and family can help give you perspective and meaning. Consider speaking to someone at work or seeing if your company has an employee assistance programme.

·         Be active – 30 mins of moderate exercise 4 times a week can help improve your mood and energy levels.

·         Nutrition – Eating nutritious meals and staying hydrated helps mood and concentration.

·         Sleep – It is recommended that adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Improving the amount of sleep you get can improve focus, memory, mood and concentration.

How can counselling help with burnout?

Sometimes we cannot address burnout ourselves and we may need to seek professional help.  Counselling allows you to talk and discuss your worries without fear of judgement and with objectivity. As therapists, we provide a confidential environment to process what is going on and learn new ways to reduce chronic work stress. Long term stress can lead to other mental health symptoms, including panic attacks, anxiety and even depression.  Counsellors at Hertford Counselling Service are trained and qualified to help with these symptoms.  We know that asking for help can feel overwhelming and daunting, especially if you’re feeling burnout however, it can also be the first step to improving your physical and mental health.

 Blog written by our counsellor Emma.