How to Avoid Burnout
At this age in our life, we have so much ahead of us. We’re trying to figure out our lives, and what we’ll be doing for our careers. One way to figure that out is to get involved in clubs, volunteer work, and part time jobs. That way we can get experience in different fields and be able to give examples to employers.
So, what most of us do is try to get involved in everything possible. School, on top of working at Starbucks, on top of being involved with the faculty student council, on top of giving out food with the local food shelter - it can become a lot!
While keeping busy is good, some of us don’t know when to stop or say ‘no’. Especially with busy times in the year coming around, for example mid-term season, burning out can become second nature. This is for all of you out there who have a hard time knowing your limit.
How to Know You’re “Burnt Out”
Merriam Webster dictionary defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration”.
Sometimes it’s really hard to tell when you’re burnt out. You may have other things going on in your life that contribute to feelings of anxiety, stress, and/or frustration.
One signal of burnout could be the feeling of being stressed all the time. This is not the same as feeling stressed here and there, as everybody experiences stress in their lives. However, the feeling of constant stress is something to pay attention to and reflect on what exactly is the factor causing you constant stress.
Another signal of burnout is the lack of motivation to get things done because of the extreme amount of work you have on your plate. We don’t mean lack of motivation for something. We mean you are unable to do any work because just thinking about the amount of work you have stresses you to the point where you simply avoid it.
Side Effects
Burnout is not something that only affects you and your life. It also affects those around you. If you consistently work in a team setting, your low energy or stressed demeanour may impact your team, and they could feed off of your vibe.
It could also affect your personal life. A lot of people like to keep their personal and work life separate, but when work is stressing you out all the time and negatively impacting your personal life, it’s almost impossible.
So Then What Should I Do?
Everyone has different coping methods. It’s best to first take a look at your own life. How do you destress? How do you take some time off after a long day? Does it consist of reading to wind down?
While these are great for the quick fix, they aren’t long term solutions. Recovering from burnout should be taken more seriously, because if you’re only going to apply a quick fix, then you might experience burnout again in the near future.
Take the time to reevaluate your schedule. Are there some things you can cut back on? Are there certain tasks you could use some help with? Although you’re probably the person who wants to do everything they possibly can, it’s just not possible. Sometimes you need to take a step back and prioritize only the things you need in life.
Once you’ve recovered, there are also some ways you can avoid burnout in the future. One way is to communicate with your co-workers, managers, or professors. Once you start feeling that extreme stress again, let someone know. That way, the people around you know what you’re going through, and they can help you find help or better manage your workload.
Another pro tip is don’t be afraid to ask for help. We know that sometimes it can be embarrassing or nerve wracking to ask for help, because you don’t want to seem incapable. We all are in need of a little help sometimes.
Asking for help shows adaptability and problem solving skills because you’re reflecting on the fact that the project you’re working on might be compromised if you’re left to do it all alone. Most importantly, being vulnerable shows self-awareness and deepens trust.
Simon Sinek’s Take on Work-Life Balance
One of our beloved past Legacy speakers, Simon Sinek, gave some very similar (and very helpful) advice on how we can work without burnout.
Simon said that we NEED vacations and we NEED breaks, because those actually make us more productive in the long run. Check more out in the video below:
Everyone experiences some level of burnout at some point in their life. You're not alone! We’ve all been there. The first step is recognizing that you are perhaps experiencing burnout, and finding ways to address that.
Remember that mental health is #1. If your mental health isn’t doing well, you might slack in other areas of your life as well. You got this!