Let’s talk about practical approaches to recovery and wellbeing. When you are burnt out, it can leave you feeling like you have failed. It leaves you feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. But what if the truth is that it is not your fault that you are burnt out? Multiple factors contribute to workplace burnout, such as demands from outside the workplace, family care, extracurriculars, and more. While you should not drop things that give you joy in life, when you are feeling burned out, recovery is possible with the right strategies and support.
Here are 4 points to consider when you are looking for support for recovering from burnout.
Make Time for Self-Care, Rest, and Recovery
Rest is essential, as humans, we are not meant to be running late into the hours of the night and waking early each morning just to do it all over again. Take time for self-care – for each person self-care will have a different meaning – for some it is simply relaxing with a book, and for others it may be spending time with friends or exercising. Either way, making time for yourself, to be alone, or just to be still, is important to rest and recalibrate.
Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Out and Seek Support
Having open and honest discussions about how you are feeling can help you on the healing journey. Talk to your manager and tell them how overwhelmed you are, talk to a therapist or coach, even family and friends. Talking about your feelings and experiences can help you process emotions and feel less isolated.
Setting Clear Boundaries
Establishing clear boundaries is essential. When you start to say no, people will get upset, especially if you have always been a yes person. When you first start to say no to people and feel guilty about it, move past that feeling and remind yourself why you said no. You are the one living in your mind and body, and you must be okay with that. When you say no to additional responsibilities, you will then have time to allocate to activities that bring you joy.
Evaluate and Adjust Your Workload
Look at your current workload. Look at where you can reduce something or delegate it to someone else. The main priority should always be your family, yourself, and work. All other things, if they don’t bring you joy and you feel like you just must do them, then let others know that you can no longer take on the extra work. For work, discuss adjustments with your employer or colleagues and consider flexible work arrangements if available.
Recovering from burnout takes time and self-compassion. Incorporating these strategies can foster healing and build resilience for the future.
Jennifer Bouley is a Career Development Practitioner located in St Stephen. She has a passion for helping others find wellness in their careers, while finding fulfilling jobs. Jennifer can be reached at blissplusyou@gmail.com.
