How to fix burnout?

I try to schedule time every day where I can relax and do what I want, without any expectations of the thing I'm doing being productive. You can't be productive all the time, it's not healthy.

 

As its easy as it sounds if you are experiencing some sort of burnout you need to take a break.

I felt stressed out and down since the last three months a two weeks vacation with alot of relaxation helped me alot!

 

Disclaimer: Just my opinion and my experience. Everyone is different.

I had felt burnt out a lot. Until I read a book about changing a career and learnt what it takes - being a newbie again, relocating, new workmates, new boss, asking for help, being shown the new ropes. Every job has pluses and minuses. When we think of a career move, our brains tend to paint everything in bright colors and then some disapointments may come (or may not - you may take the plunge and it may turn out to be better).

In the books it was written: if you give 100% at your work, and you begin to lose power, everyone will notice if your perfomance drops to 70%. They will ask what's wrong. However, if you give 40% and your perfomance rises to 55% every now and then, everyone will notice improvement and will start to praise you. I know it's unfair but it's life.

Changing your attitude towards your job may also be useful. At this very moment you're probably very negative about it. You hate it and want to change it. Imagine you changed your job for something else what would you miss - I work close to my work so I don't have to drive there. I have some good friend. I know the boss. I know the ropes. I have some position.

Finally, your job is for earning money. Your hobbies and interests are for giving you pleasure. Someone wrote: job is unpleasant that's why we are paid for doing it. But it's not that the job is completely unpleasant. There are always pros and cons.

Those are opinions. I may be wrong. There are people who accept more risk and earn more as a result. Some people are more resilient to stress. Some like changes or freelance work. Everyone is different.

 

The first thing to acknowledge is that you've identified that you could be burnt out. A great deal of people unfortunately don't recognise this until symptoms become extremely severe and then they're left with no other choice but to stop working until symptoms resolve. Often only to return to the very same working conditions that led them there in the first place.

As others have said, scheduling breaks is super important. Not only bigger chunks of time away from work, but also making sure you get those breaks throughout the day. Make a habit of getting out for a small walk on your lunch break. Anything you can just to remove yourself from the environment will help. Some other suggestions:

• What responsibilities could be delegated or reassigned to help lighten your load?

• Make sure you're prioritising your health. Focus on the fundamentals: sleep, exercise, nutrition. If you're not looking after your physical and mental health, burnout is going to hit harder.

• Consider some form of professional supervision/coaching. A coach may be able to help you build skills and adapt your mindset to better manage your workload or help you find new, more efficient ways of dealing with workplace challenges and pressure.

• Consider getting a general health check up with your doctor to rule out any physical issues that could be causing any symptoms you're experiencing which could resemble burnout.

"life is work, and the pay off will happen one day" - I really think you need to challenge this belief. The reality is, "that day" may never come. We can't delay our happiness and health waiting for that final promotion, pay check, or dream job. We have to make the most of each day and do our best now to build a life which fulfils us as much as possible. That doesn't necessarily mean a greater pay check.

All the best going forward brother. I hope you get on top of the burnout and find a resolution going forward.

 

Yes, I agree with @recoverykiwi. A lot of good advice from him. I used to make the same mistake of putting my needs off, delaying having fun and being happy for some distant future - that never comes. We don't have to wait to make ourselves happy.

We need to take a break and let ourselves slack off every now and then. Work - life balance is for some people hard to achieve but it can be done. Hard days at work can be levelled off by giving yourself some treats, doing sports, going out and other pleasures.

 

That's your issue and mine too. It's OK to slack off one day. The next day you will return to your routine with more energy and motivation. My brain wants to "make up" after a break. Everyone deserves some rest. Consider it a reward for yourself. Also you don't need to give you 100% every single day. Nobody can. You need to regulate in order to continue. If your patterns is: 100%, 100%, 100% ... and then 0%, mental issues, 10%, 0%, burn out. It's better to listen to you body: 90% (it's OK, it's good enough), 80% (I'm a bit tired), 60% (I need to pull myself together), 90% .... Of course 100% is just an example, it doesn't mean working hard all day long. It's just doing your daily tasks.

I'm similar to you. I used to think of others first, then myself. It made me miserable because nobody cared too much for me. You are responsible for meeting your own needs and giving yourself a pat on the back even for doing 70% or even 30% or allowing yourself a rest (0%) if it is necessary due to mental or physical recovery. Even machines need maintenance and we are not machines.

 

Same situation. Been at my job since July and definitely feeling the burnout. I don’t know how people work full time jobs for years. The daily grind is torture.

Doing anything for 40 hr/week for years and thinking this is normal is insanity. My only plan is to save like crazy and take extended breaks between jobs. But that’s not sustainable for when I’m older so I don’t know what to do bro…

 

I agree. Life is hard and a constant struggle to relieve suffer and pain.

Modern technology has relieved the physical pains of life leaving more room for mental pain. Modern life is about mental endurance. Most can’t handle it and I understand. People cope with sedation via drug, alcohol and porn.