Even before we got hit with a global pandemic, burnout was a prevalent issue. In fact, 53% of millennials were burnt out pre-pandemic. With the addition of doomsday sensationalism that is being highlighted in the media, burnout is becoming increasingly threatening to our well-being. Recent surveys indicate that millennial burnout has increased 6% since the onset of COVID, and continues to rise.
Those who have experienced burnout can tell you that it leaves you feeling depleted and perpetually exhausted. As someone who works with people to help them live life with zest and passion (and have been up against burn out myself), I can tell you that depletion and exhaustion are not part of the formula to creating a joy-filled life.
So what do you need to watch out for?
emotional exhaustion. This is the perpetual "fatigue that comes from caring too much, for too long" (Nagoski & Nagoski, 2019). Emotional exhaustion is a feeling of exhaustion that lingers. It's beyond being physically tired - it's more like wanting to emotionally hibernate.
depersonalization. This is when you no longer feel empathy or compassion for yourself or others. You feel depleted of caring. You're unable or unwilling to practice empathy. You tend to feel cold, resentful, and "over it"
decreased sense of accomplishment. This is the feeling that things you do are useless. Actions are pointless and won't make a positive impact on the stressors that you're up against. Things feel unconquerable and hopeless.
Burnout is behavior specific, meaning that it shows up in a specific area of your life such as work, family, relationship, etc. Think about an aspect of your life where you may be feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Read over the following symptoms:
feeling "meh" when talking about said aspect
reluctance to communicate with family or friends about it
you celebrate when you don't have to deal with that area of your life
you're cynical and negative when talking about it
reluctance to do anything about how you're feeling
These are just a handful of ways that burnout may be showing up for you. If that's the case, read on for tools on how to reduce the impact of burnout.
(And if you're not experiencing burn out symptoms, the following tools may help you avoid it.)
Take care of your body with adequate sleep, proper nutrition, frequent movement, & time outside.
Create life balance by maintaining relationships with people and things outside of this aspect of your life.
Prioritize and build intentional down-time away from the stressful area of your life.
Explore what's behind your burn out and address it.
I need to add that if you're feeling emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of accomplishment in all areas of your life and experiencing an overall sense of hopelessness, you're likely beyond burnout. If that's the case, please reach out to a professional therapist or psychologist for help.
You don't need to navigate this alone. Reach out for support.
You can do great things with ease.
Need help navigating burnout?
I help women who are overwhelmed, rediscover a sense of presence and sovereignty in their lives. Schedule a free connection session here.