Greetings once again,
Today I'd like to talk about something that is very important to me, especially as a student. This topic is Burnout.
But before we get into it, I'd like to thank you once again for all your support. To all those who have joined my email list, an extra thank you. If you haven't as yet, click here, I promise I will not spam you.
Now, let's get into it.
You may want to get a warm beverage and/or get into a comfortable spot before you start because I think that this is something that we really need to have a heart to heart about.
Burnout is real. I have seen it manifest itself in me as well as my loved ones. Not only do you get a sense that you cannot move forward in your endeavors, but you are tired. You also may feel unnaturally drained mentally and physically. Moreover, the drive to move forward is not there-basically you feel like a dried well. You have nothing left to give and the reserves are either increasingly depleting at a fast rate or nowhere to be found.
The definition
The Mayo Clinic defines burnout as a specific kind of stress that's related to your work. Though they state that it isn't a medical diagnosis, it is indeed an important ordeal to recognize.
The Questions
The article suggests asking yourself questions such as: do you feel dissatisfied with your accomplishments? Do you have issues concentrating? Do you notice a change in your sleeping habits? Do you feel like you need to drag yourself to do what you need to do? and do you constantly feel a lack of energy?
The Causes
Some causes of burnout include:
· extreme activity - this constant need to remain focused such as constantly studying for an exam or back to back preparation for an evaluation
· A sense of little to no control
· Not knowing what is expected of you, and
· An imbalance in your work and life situation
"True Self-Care is not Bath Salts and Cupcakes, it's Making the Choice to Build a Life You Don't Need to Escape From."
~Brianna Wiest.
The Risk Factors
It is noted that your risk factor for a burnouts increases if:
· You feel like you lack control over your work
· You're working in a high stressed area, constantly working overtime, or
· If you work in a profession where you need to constantly give of yourself such as health care or as a student.
The Effects
Burnouts can lead to various secondary issues such as:
· Fatigue
· Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
· Substance abuse
· Heart disease
· Increased risk of illnesses (which is extremely important knowing that it is the flu season and that we're in a pandemic)
· High blood pressure, and
· Type 2 diabetes
What to do?
The article mentions various ways of preventing or working with burnouts which include:
· Seeking your doctor
· Asking for help
· Exercising, and
· Getting rest among other things
Let’s get Personal
My personal experience with burnout led to an extreme headache that lasted for days and left me anxious about my triggers because I did not know what would trigger it, and painkillers offered little help.
Additionally, I had anxiety, but I noticed that when I took the time out to do other things (listened to music, got creative, spent intentional time with family) my headaches mysteriously went away. However, once I went back to worrying about my headache, physically exerting myself (running up the stairs), or having a subconscious trigger, the headaches would come right back.
Disclaimer***(I have personally not spoken with my doctor about this. My mentor from my associates’ level of nursing school had helped me to recognize my burnout and deal with it the past, so when it happened again, I was able to acknowledge it. However, after reading this article, I am planning on alerting my doctor on my next visit).
Differences
Everyone’s experience with burnout will vary. Moreover, what may work for one person may not work for another. I would like to list five things that I have found helpful and I hope that you will too.
1. Exercise. I have always heard that exercising gives you this burst of energy, but I never believed it until I purposely started to exercise. For some reason I feel so rejuvenated, energetic, and productive. It also gives me a chance me to work out some of my subconscious anxiety. I personally like exercising in the morning.
2. Reading a book. TV has its purpose, but I feel like when you read a book, it takes you into a different land and you can create the scenery for yourself. The voices and the storyline move at a pace that is comfortable with your mind and you become a part of this story. It is like you have a chance to become friends with the characters.
3. Journaling. I've always loved writing, whether it's writing about my day writing about an important event or simply jotting down a few things that I am grateful for. I read a book called “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor. I had to read it for an assignment, but I did not get to finish it, and I decided that I would reread it once I get my holiday.
Something that stood out to me was when the author mentioned that when you feel anxious you should write down the things that you are anxious about, and then evaluate the things you have control over and the things you don't have control over. The next time I felt anxious I completed this activity, and it was surprising to me to see the things that I did not have control over. Once I was able to pinpoint the things that I could work on and how I could work on them, and then dismiss the things that I had no control over, I felt like I could move forward with my life- it was a wonderful feeling.
4. Play a game. I love playing mind games whether it's mahjong or hidden object games. Games that challenge me but at the same time requires little brainpower. I also liked playing The Sims Freeplay just because I could design, however, due to nursing school and life, I had to put it down, but I still indulge in other games from time to time.
5. Treat yourself. Give yourself something to look forward to. Currently it's hard to go out or to hang with friends but I try to have movie nights where I write it down in my planner, take the night off, get in my comfy clothes, grab my blanket, and sometimes I may even pop popcorn or get a cup of ice cream, put on movie or my favorite show, and enjoy .
I hope that I was able to help you in some way. If you would like to read more on the Mayo clinic article, click the link here.
***BONUS: I created a freebie just to help you plan and reflect on your selfcare activities, so click the link here to see it. If you end up using it, please tag me on Instagram @simplyannareece.
An additional announcement: Due to finals and taking the time to properly recover from my burnout, I will be taking time away from social media to study and rejuvenate. I will still be active on my email list and Garden of Hope, so click here to subscribe and here to read my ongoing book. With that said, I hope you have a peaceful rest of the year and I will see you next year 2021 all being well.
Thank you for stopping by until next time, peace be
~Simply AnnaReece.
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, June 5). Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642?reDate=24082021
For more inspiration, check out my Pinterest Board: Mental/Emotional Therapy
Pictures used are from Pixabay.com and Wix.com
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