How do you know if you’re burnt out or you’re just feeling tired?

Burnout is considered an emotional state where you are emotional and physically exhausted. Usually, burnout caused by excessive and prolonged stress when someone is overwhelmed and unable to meet workplace demands. You lose interest and your productivity and energy decreased. You feel trapped in your job, you become detached,withdrawn, you are frustrated and feel drained of energy. You feel sad and irritable and have a cynical edge to your outlook in life and at work. You may find yourself wanting to sleep all the time and you may seek out ways to escape by drinking, drugs, eating or shopping binges.The difference between stress and burnout is a fine line. If you are stressed over your work, you are capable of seeing that once the project is completed things will fall back into place. With burnout you are unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you are spinning your wheels and not getting anywhere.

Ways to Avoid Burnout at Work

Get a Clear Job Description
If you are unsure exactly what you are suppose to be doing, you may be doing too much. If you feel that you cannot possibly accomplish the tasks you’ve taken on, this can lead to burnout.

Transfer within your Company or Ask for New Duties
If you’ve been doing the same tasks for a long time try a lateral move. Changing up your work environment can relieve stress and make the day more interesting and thus more productive.

Change Jobs
Find something, within your field, that is different from what you are currently doing. Again, changing things up in your daily routine can ease the stress that leads to burnout.

Change Careers
If you feel that it is the career you’ve chosen and not the environment that is causing your burnout, decide on something new. Start taking whatever training you need and slowly educate yourself in this new area.

Your personal life also contributes to decreasing your stress levels. Be sure to take the time to interact with people, be it close personal relationships or social ones. Everyone needs to blow off steam and feel appreciated for who they are, not just what they do. Doing charity or community work, take up a sport or taking up a new hobby is a good way to combat stress. The most important aspect to avoiding burnout is to change your outlook. Find social interactions and activities that are pleasurable for you and that will take your focus off the stress at work.

If you find that no matter what attempts you make to change feelings of hopelessness and helplessness you can’t seem to pull yourself out, it is time for professional help. Seek out counseling in your community to help get you through the situation.

I have a friend of mine who is the least stressed person I have ever met. I asked him his secret and he said, “Whenever I find myself stressing over something I ask myself ‘In 100 years will anyone care?’. Oddly enough the answer has always been ‘No!’ and that gives me the perspective I need to not take things overly seriously.”

So ask yourself….”In 100 years….?”