How to hit the reset button when you’re on the edge of burnout
Posted on 18th November 2022 at 10:05
Burnout doesn't go away on its own; and not addressing the problem can lead to much bigger problems down the line, like long term sickness, presenteeism, depression, stress and anxiety.
The trouble is, when you’re in a position where you’re running your own business and maybe there aren’t the people there to hand work over to, shutting up shop just isn't an option. If this is the case, then looking out for yourself and the signs of burnout should be your top priority.
Catching the signs early and alleviating some of that stress from yourself before burnout becomes a problem is the most effective way to hit the reset button before burnout begins to slow you down.
So what should you be looking out for? And how do you hit that reset button?
Listen to your body.
It can be tempting to just get your head down and push through, but when you’re on the path to burnout, your body will be sending you signal after signal to warn you about the dangers ahead. Making a conscious choice to acknowledge these signals (which you can find out more about in our blog “Are you ignoring your body’s burnout signals?”) will help to pick up on the signs of burnout sooner and identify the cause of your stress and anxiety much quicker.
Pause and evaluate.
Burnout isn’t like a switch where you’re either burnt out or you're not. There’s a whole spectrum of symptoms you could measure against, from mild to debilitating. This means that one of the most vital stages in diverting your path to burnout is taking the time to pause and identify exactly where you are on this scale. Once you know this, you will feel more equipped to properly plan the most effective path to recovery but this can be a hard task to do on your own. If you’d like someone to talk through this process with you, get in touch.
Identify what's causing you to feel burnt out.
There are many possible causes for feeling burnt out. From pressing projects to an ineffective work life balance, all aspects of your life can hold the key to why you’re feeling the way that you’re feeling. This means that identifying exactly which aspects of your life are pushing you towards these feelings of burnout can be difficult.
For a lot of my clients, I recommend using a journal (whether that be a written journal, voice notes or private video log) to track how they’re feeling. This makes it easier to identify the culprits that regularly leave you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, flat and frazzled.
Reassess and reconnect with your values.
For a lot of people, the main cause of burnout is overworking. They’re working long hours and enduring the burnout signals because they have a goal that this job should help them achieve - whether this be the ability to retire early, to spend more time with their family or for financial freedom. Often though, in the pursuit to achieve this scenario we have in our heads, we often overlook all that we already have in the present and do not enjoy our lives now. Our minds are so set on the future and where we perceive happiness to be we treat ourselves badly in the meantime and also miss all the pleasure of now. Some people finally reach the goal but are so burnt out that they cannot enjoy it or become ill before they reach it.
When you’re on the brink of burnout, taking a step back and re-aligning our values and goals with your behaviour is key.
Don't rush the process.
There is no quick fix to burnout. Recovery will take time, so be sure to allow yourself the time and space you need before jumping back into your previous role.
Recovering from burnout is no small feat, especially if you’re taking this journey alone. At True Freedom, we offer our clients the space, tools and support they need to feel back on top of things again with a clear meaning & purpose and with life in balance for ongoing resilience. If you’d like to find out more, send us an email today.
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