Taking onboard everything in these guides would be really beneficial to me.
- Preventing Burnout: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Coping Strategies
- Caregiving Support & Help: Tips for Making Family Caregiving Easier
- Job Loss & Unemployment Stress: Staying Positive During Your Job Search
I struggle.
Since last week I’ve been making renewed efforts towards self care and recovering from burnout, but I find it difficult to do all the healthful things at the same time.
In time, in time…
Here are some key gems (edited for brevity):
When you’re burned out, the natural tendency is to protect what little energy you have left by isolating yourself. But your friends and family are more important than ever during difficult times. Turn to your loved ones for support.
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When you’ve reached the end stage of burnout, adjusting your attitude or looking after your health isn’t going to solve the problem. You need to force yourself to slow down or take a break. Cut back whatever commitments and activities you can. Give yourself time to rest, reflect, and heal.
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Burnout brings with it many losses… It takes a tremendous amount of emotional control to keep yourself from feeling the pain of these losses.
- Loss of the idealism or dream with which you entered your career
- Loss of the role or identity that originally came with your job
- Loss of physical and emotional energy
- Loss of friends, fun, and sense of community
- Loss of esteem, self-worth, and sense of control and mastery
- Loss of joy, meaning and purpose that make work – and life – worthwhile
When you recognize these losses and allow yourself to grieve them, you open yourself to healing.
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- Accept reality.
- Don’t beat yourself up.
- Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive family and friends may better help your self-esteem than hiding away.
- Let people know that you’re looking for work. Taking action will help you feel more in control of your situation. Plus, the support you receive may pleasantly surprise you. Simple words of sympathy and encouragement can be a huge boost.
- Join or start a job club. Being around other job seekers can be energizing and motivating, and help keep you on track during your job search.
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And finally, basics of self care…
- Exercise regularly. At least 30 minutes of exercise, three times weekly, because exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress and boost your energy. So get moving, even if you’re tired.
- Eat right. Keep your energy up and your mind clear by eating nutritious meals at regular times throughout the day, because nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress and get through busy days.
- Get enough sleep. An average of 8 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep every night, because otherwise energy level, productivity, and ability to handle stress will suffer.
