We are all familiar with the symptoms of feeling stressed, given the seemingly endless demands of our fast-paced lives, but are you familiar with burnout syndrome? Unlike stress, which usually makes you hyperactive as you run around in circles, trying to empty your inbox for the day, burnout is the end result from continual stressors - you begin to lack motivation and detach from your normal responsibilities. You lose your energy and drive to perform your daily duties.
Burnout syndrome can occur in many different scenarios and places, such as in your home or at the office. Work that is monotonous, with little recognition, can lead you to disconnect from the task over time. On the other hand, obligations that are very high pressure or demanding can also induce burnout. Even caring for someone who is ill or trying to care for children while taking care of the home puts you at higher risk. A continuous, chaotic environment is another precursor to burning out.
Some symptoms of burnout syndrome include taking longer to get jobs done or putting them off entirely, coming in late or leaving early, feeling helpless or hopeless, lacking motivation to do basic tasks - even your immune system can be compromised from irregular sleep patterns, eating a poor diet and the like. You lack enthusiasm and start to withdraw. Having occasional bad days, where you are bored, taken for granted or overworked is quite normal. The problem lies when you start to continually feel resentful or down, and every day begins to feel like a disappointment.
You can heal from burnout syndrome, but it will take time to implement changes. You need to evaluate your life, find support to help you manage the stress, delegate tasks to others to decrease your workload, communicate with those about your boundaries and what is acceptable to you. Most importantly, begin making time for you.