Tips and warning signs in case of burnout

“There is no universal definition of burnout,” explains Dr. Sabine Gregersen is a psychologist at BGW. Burnout is a general term for burnout, mostly work-related. Challenges become overwhelming, persistent stress and tension become unmanageable. Thus, the so-called burnout syndrome is not a condition but a gradual process, as the expert explains: “Fatigue lasts for a long time and is so pronounced at some point that the ‘battery’ runs out and can no longer hold a charge.» Symptoms that indicate burnout may occur at different levels:

Here are the signs of burnout

• Physically: chronic fatigue, lack of energy, sleep disorders
• emotionally: Fatigue, exhaustion, feeling of inner emptiness
• spiritual-mental: Poor concentration, forgetfulness, loss of creativity, thoughts of meaninglessness
• Social: social withdrawal, lack of understanding of others, inability to listen to others

10 tips against burnout

1. There is nothing wrong with times of stress. On the contrary, they can have an invigorating effect. However, this should be followed by relaxation phases. If these are missing, we will be sick in the long run. If that’s the case, the motto might just be: Stress, let it go! Anything that contributes is welcome.
2. For example, sports: Mens sana in corpore sano – in a healthy body there is a healthy mind. The wisdom of the ancient Romans is still relevant today. Running, soccer or swimming: Exercising in the fresh air relaxes you and gives you a strong build. This helps in better management of crises.
3. Or relaxation techniques such as autogenic training, meditation and tai chi: find what works for you and help you relax your mind.
4. Protect yourself from stress at work: Handle conflicts. Delegate when work gets too much. Reject unfair criticism. Ask for feedback. If you don’t understand a task or it doesn’t make sense to you, ask.
5. Turn off your smartphone regularly: when you work hard on something or just want to relax. The person who is constantly at the reception cannot recover.
6. Do you find it difficult to refuse someone’s request? Do you prefer to do everything yourself at work? Learn to say no once in a while! Rest assured: the world will keep turning anyway.
7. Fight perfectionism! If your work is never good enough, you risk burnout.
8. Honesty is the best policy: Recognize the symptoms and admit that you have a problem. Is work disturbing your increasingly hard-to-find sleep? Are you tired even after the weekend or vacation? Then it’s time to act.
9. When the time comes, don’t think grinding your teeth will help. Get help: Talk to someone in your family or friends you trust, consult your doctor or a psychiatrist.
10. Do you just drag yourself to work, do you no longer enjoy life, do you feel alienated from your fellows? Talk to your doctor about antidepressants.

What can supervisors do?

“Managers should seek dialogue early on if there are warning signs,” Gregersen advises. “But they don’t diagnose and give psychological advice. Rather, the conversation is about describing your own perception of abnormality without evaluating them. The aim should be to find out what can be done for the person concerned and how together the situation can be improved if needed. Then it is recommended to seek professional help. (aponet)

Source : Blick