How To Combat End of the Year Burnout
Most people experience a moment towards the end of the year when they have had enough. Some people feel frustration towards their job or a spouse, while others cannot put their finger on what is causing their feelings of anxiety and burnout.
Defining the underlying causes of burnout is important because it can help you develop a plan for combating the overwhelming feelings of exhaustion. That said, before you can understand your burnout and manage it, you need to diagnose it.
Signs and Symptoms of Burnout
Burnout is not only a feeling of frustration and tiredness. Most people feel both emotions at some point, but a nap or a weekend away from the office can restore their mood.
Burnout is a state of complete physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. A weekend away often doesn’t take care of the issue.
Burnout can manifest in several ways, including irritability, frequent headaches, changes in appetite and sleeping habits, or chronic anxiety. The condition also leads to performance decline, workplace dread, trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, cynicism, and disillusionment.
Medications may help curb feelings of burnout, allowing people to regain some composure and control. A natural anxiety medication for teenager or adults can help with mild experiences of burnout, but for severe cases, you may want to consult a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist.
While end-of-year burnout is common, it does not necessarily end with the ringing in of the new year. To combat burnout, you need to learn effective coping mechanisms and strategies. You also need to find ways to improve your current situation. Even if you manage to get away from the source of burnout for a couple of weeks, if you do not do anything to actively change it, the problem will return.
Effective Management Skills To Stay Productive
Managing burnout is about setting realistic expectations and boundaries. People often experience burnout because of technology and the assumption that they must remain available to everyone for 24 hours daily. Part of setting boundaries and expectations is being realistic about your limitations. It is not healthy to be accessible every minute of the day.
Thankfully, your devices make it easy to create and establish routines, especially with communications. You can set your phone to Do Not Disturb mode for specific times during the day. For example, you can add work contacts to a Do Not Disturb list, so when the workday is over, your phone will send work calls directly to voicemail.
You can also manage burnout by ensuring you focus on self-care like exercise and healthy eating. Perhaps you would benefit from meditation or mindfulness. Also, prioritize sleep and spending time outdoors. All these activities help improve mood, focus, and well-being.
Finally, buy anxiety medication or visit a mental health professional so you have someone to talk to about your stress and anxiety. While family can be a nice outlet, it is best to have someone you can share your innermost thoughts with, someone who will not judge you or take offense.
Burnout is a genuine issue, and it can have detrimental effects on your life. Try OTC anxiety medicines or contact a local therapist to learn more about coping strategies and finding balance in your life.