Avoiding Burnout: When to Rest to Recharge and Reset

Recently I took a week out of the clinic. It was the first time I had taken a break since before the pandemic hit.

I have been grateful that I have been able to continue working throughout, but I was also recognising the signs that I needed a break – my body and my mind needed a bit of a rest to avoid burning out.

Taking a break from things can have many benefits and is often needed to avoid things like burnout.

I encounter many clients who show signs of burnout and it is likely a contributing factor to why they may be presenting to the clinic with body aches and pains, made worse, by prolonged periods of stress, poor sleep and diet and a general lack of movement or exercise.

So, what is Burnout?

Burnout is a state of chronic stress. It can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism and detachment and feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.

When burnt out, one feels like they are no longer able to function effectively – personally or professionally.

This doesn’t happen suddenly, but is much more insidious, creeping up very slowly, making it harder to recognize.

However, the body and mind often give many warnings…

Pre-COVID life could be stressful enough and now for some it’s even more so.

When prolonged, stress can cause a variety of physical and mental symptoms.

Physical symptoms may include:

• Low energy
• Headaches
• Upset stomach (diarrhea, constipation and nausea)
• Aches, pains and tension
• Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
• Insomnia
• Frequent colds and infections
• Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
• Nervousness and shaking
• Ringing in the ear
• Cold or sweat hands and feet
• Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
• Clenched jaw and grinding teeth

Mental symptoms may include:

• Constant worry
• Racing thoughts
• Forgetfulness and disorganization
• Inability to focus
• Poor judgment
• Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side

Exhaustion can be a normal reaction to stress – physically and mentally – and it does not equate to disease or illness. But feeling exhausted vs just feeling tired are very different – two extremes of the spectrum.

The above physical and mental symptoms on their own are not necessarily abnormal but demonstrating a collection of these symptoms may be a sign of prolonged stress and a warning that you may need to make some changes to your current lifestyle.

What are the signs of burnout?

• A lack of energy to be consistently productive
• Difficulty concentrating
• A lack of satisfaction in work/life
• Change in sleep habits
• Increased frequency of headaches, GI upset or other physical symptoms (e.g. body pain and tension)
• Trouble getting started in the mornings or at work
• Increased irritability, being impatient

Why might you be reaching this point?

Lack of control

2020 has been a year out of control. Work and life have not been the same. Some have struggled to get work, while others have been busier than ever. Not having the resources can have a big impact! Realising that things are out of your control can be difficult, may be the first step in taking control of the things you can!

Extremes of Activity

For those working more, it may be that you have been working from home for the last 6 months, possibly without an ideal work set-up, working more than you had previously. Your exercise routine may have also changed – from none at all to exercising daily.

Lack of Social Support

While Zoom and FaceTime are great, they are not the same as connecting with friends and loved ones in person. While here in Australia we have been quite fortunate, not being able to see friends and family overseas or out of state, can eventually take its toll. If you are feeling isolated, you may feel more stressed.

Work-Life Imbalance

Particularly for those working from home, the separation between work and homelife has completely eroded. If you are going from the breakfast table to your desk and back again for dinner, it can be hard to devote much of your time and energy to your family and friends.

What can you do to Recharge and Reset?

Re-Assess What’s Important

This pandemic has given many of those the time to reflect on what is important and by re-assessing priorities, maybe you can make a bit more time for activities that bring you joy and make you feel good! Stress will always be there – so having something to counteract the stresses of daily life couldn’t hurt, right?

Talk to Someone

It’s not always as easy to realise you need to change, but if you are feeling run down – mentally and/or physically – something’s gotta give and sometimes talking to someone can help put the big picture in perspective.

Try a Relaxing Activity – Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation, Massage

Try anything that will help take you mind of the stresses of your life. By focusing on your breath for example you can up-regulate activity in your parasympathetic nervous system, calming your body and your mind. And make sure it becomes a regular habit.

Get Some Exercise

As we keep saying, movement is medicine! Get your body moving to get the endorphins flowing or just to break up your daily routine. With still a large part of the working population still at home, many are not getting the incidental steps they normally would; without a morning commute, not walking to the office or going to meetings. Try adding in a morning or evening walk or get out on your lunch hour for. Use the time you normally would move to move a bit more. Schedule it in to you diary – if you don’t it is a lot less likely to happen!

Get More Sleep

Sleep is when your body does it’s work to recharge and recover. While you sleep your blood pressure and heart rate drop, allowing your heart to take a break. Hormones that slow your breathing and relax your muscles are released, helping with inflammation and healing.