FEELING THE BURNOUT?
WITH JUST 16 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS, IF YOU’RE FEELING STRESSED, ACT NOW, SAYS vICkI-MARIE COSSAR
IT’S THE most wonderful time of year. Or is it? If you’re already suffering from exhaustion, then maybe you’re dreading the extra pressures the festive season brings. Present buying, dinner planning, wrapping and decorating could see you juggling even more tasks on top of an already incredibly long working day and might leave you feeling emotional, mentally, and physically exhausted.
If this is the case, you could be suffering from burnout, a condition brought on by prolonged stress. The term was coined by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974 and was officially recognised as a chronic condition by the World Health Organisation last year – it’s described as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
‘Burnout is the point we get to when we’ve been very stressed for a long time,’ says Zoe Aston, a mental health consultant and psychotherapist (Instagram @yourmental healthworkout). ‘It has symptoms similar to depression and anxiety but where depression can have a chemical imbalance, burnout is usually workfocused and when you come away from it, you can often recover.’
A 2020 Labour Force Survey found that 828,000 workers are suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, and it’s more prevalent in public service industries, such as education, health and social care and public administration and defence. The survey also found professions including healthcare workers, teachers and public service professionals show higher levels of stress compared to others.
Freudenberger first used the term burnout to describe the frazzled volunteer staff (himself included) at a free clinic for drug addicts. More recently, it has become associated with high-level professionals.
However, the more we understand about it and the symptoms associated with it (chronic stress, fatigue, sleeplessness, tension in the body, irritability and a lack of focus), the more we can all relate to it.
‘Often we don’t realise we are on the road to burnout, which is a selfdiagnosable issue,’ says Zoe. ‘But, if you are sacrificing your own self-care and your own mental health over someone, something or some place else, then you are vulnerable to it.
‘Currently, we are all that bit more susceptible, regardless of our situation as we are still transitioning into our “new normal”. Transition is generally difficult for us, because change usually involves loss on some level. This year, we have lost so much and been forced to use our energy in different ways.
‘Things like connecting with others, social interaction and finding creative inspiration — the things that feed and fuel our mind — have not been at our fingertips in the way they used to be. Therefore, we are expelling more energy. The brain needs glucose in order to work efficiently and brain functions – such as thinking, memory and learning – are closely linked to glucose levels. ‘Without enough of it, our mental health can suffer and we feel off balance, which we often identify as stress and eventually burnout. The brain takes the glucose directly from your bloodstream and limits the amount of glucose available to the rest of the body, hence why you might also feel more lethargic and your appetite may have increased during lockdown.’
Since March, lots of us have been struggling to create a clear work/life balance, so Zoe has been looking into the state of the nation’s digital health with Microsoft Windows. It found that almost 25 per cent of Brits are finding it increasingly difficult to de-stress and unwind in 2020, with 25 per cent admitting working days are longer.
‘When it comes to our relationship with tech, 31 per cent of Brits admit they don’t feel comfortable with their digital health right now,’ she says.
‘Just like the role of diet, exercise, sleep and relationships, digital health has to be considered if we want to improve our overall mental and physical wellbeing. It’s not just about how long you are on your phone but also how and what you are using your technology for.
‘Technology is a way of life so you need to redefine your digital boundaries, find balance and recognise your patterns. Do you have lunch in front of your laptop, reach for your phone when you wake up? How does that make you feel? As soon as you notice that feeling of exhaustion creeping up on you, give yourself permission to step away from whatever is burning you out. No excuses or justifications.
‘It might just be taking a few days off. You are the most important person in your life and mental health days are as important as taking a day off if you are physically unwell.
‘In the Windows research, 60 per cent said exploring a creative side helped improve their overall wellbeing, so unlock your imagination and redirect your focus. Finally, make sure you talk about it. You’ll be surprised how many people are also suffering from burnout at the moment.’
Zoe adds that when you return to work or normal life, it helps to create a schedule. ‘Make some of the daily life decisions in advance so you don’t have to spend energy on them, Plan simple things like what’s for lunch and when you’ll exercise. By creating a schedule, you’ll feel you have some authority over your life again.’