Found! Easy ways to banish burnout

Wake up with a prayer

Simply starting each day by reflecting on all of your blessings can reduce your risk of burnout by 65%— and it will cut your symptoms by as much as 80% if you’re feeling drained right now. That’s the word from doctors at Duke University in North Carolina, who say morning prayer stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system— an all-body network of nerves that helps you stay calm, clear-headed and energized.

Move at home

A daily 30-minute workout will increase your brain’s production of mood-boosting serotonin, helping you feel 65% happier and more upbeat, says psychiatrist Linda Lam, M.D. And University of Pennsylvania researchers say you’re twice as likely to stay active if you move around at home, like stair climbing and brisk housecleaning.

Jot a few lines

Taking a few minutes each evening to jot down your feelings about the day (good or bad) will cut anxiety, fatigue and burnout by 55%. That, say University of Texas scientists, is because regularly putting your emotions on paper—a process called expressive writing—keeps your adrenal glands calm, reducing their stress hormone release.

Relax at night

Spend half an hour every night relaxing in a bath or with a book, and your energy will soar within a week—and you’ll cut your risk of future burnout by as much as 55%, say Stanford University researchers. Soothing rituals calm the anxiety center of the brain. —Brenda Kearns

We juggle hectic jobs and busy homes, care for aging relatives and reach out to those in need…no wonder Cleveland Clinic researchers say 77% of us feel tense and tired. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has noticed, and they’ve dubbed this now-common condition “burnout.” To stay involved while staying calm…