Burnout is a common but often misunderstood condition. As wellness coach Helen Kelder shared, “It’s so much more than just being tired.” It involves physical and emotional exhaustion that can significantly impact your daily life and relationships. Understanding burnout and how to prevent it is crucial, especially as we enter September, a time when many feel increased pressure at work and in their personal lives.
What Is Burnout?
Burnout occurs when your emotional and physical resources are depleted. It’s not just about feeling overworked it’s “when your emotional bank runs dry,” affecting your mental and physical health. Burnout leads to a “weariness of the soul” that sleep alone can’t fix. It often results in feelings of anxiety, depression, and a lack of motivation.
How Is Burnout Different From Stress?
It’s easy to confuse burnout with everyday stress or feeling overworked. However, Helen points out that while stress can be alleviated with rest or recreation, burnout is much deeper. “A holiday isn’t going to fix it,” she says. To recover from burnout, you need to address the root causes, not just the symptoms.
Burnout is often caused by emotional and mental exhaustion. “It’s not exclusive to high-pressure jobs,” she explains. “It happens to people in all sorts of roles—mums at home, part-time workers, and people in caring roles.” This misconception needs to be busted.
Signs and Symptoms of Burnout
Burnout manifests in various ways, and it’s essential to recognise the symptoms early. Physically, burnout can present as chronic fatigue, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. Helen notes that people experiencing burnout often have trouble concentrating and may even notice a decline in short-term memory.
Emotionally, burnout can make you feel disconnected from life and work. “There’s a real loss of enthusiasm,” Helen says, and people may even mistake burnout for depression.
Behaviourally, people experiencing burnout may start withdrawing from social activities or lose interest in hobbies they once enjoyed. It’s important to pay attention to these changes in yourself and others.
Why Do Some People Experience Burnout More Than Others?
Burnout is influenced by both individual and external factors. Personality traits, coping mechanisms, and life circumstances play a significant role. Perfectionists and people-pleasers, for instance, are more prone to burnout. “Those who struggle to set boundaries often burn out,” Helen explains.
Additionally, workplace culture and social support systems can either exacerbate or alleviate burnout. It’s essential to assess your work environment and personal responsibilities regularly to prevent burnout.
How to Prevent Burnout
Preventing burnout starts with setting boundaries and managing expectations. Helen stresses the importance of “reassessing your expectations regularly” to ensure they are realistic and sustainable. It’s easy to continue commitments out of obligation, but this can drain your emotional resources.
“Your goals should serve you and your family, not rob them of a loved one,” she adds. Focusing on what truly matters, such as building meaningful relationships and making happy memories, can help prevent burnout.
Recovering From Burnout
For those already experiencing burnout, Helen advises checking your definition of success. “Life is not about what you’re achieving; it’s about who you’re becoming,” she says. Focusing on personal growth and relationships rather than material success can help shift your perspective and reduce burnout.
Finally, Helen highlights the importance of facing underlying fears that contribute to burnout, such as the fear of failure or conflict. “It’s not just the fact that you’re overworking; you’re overworking for a reason,” she concludes. Understanding the “why” behind your actions is essential for recovery.
Preventing burnout is an ongoing process, but with the right strategies, it’s possible to avoid its harmful effects. Listen to the full conversation below.