Burnout is a state caused by high levels of chronic stress. It results in a total breakdown emotionally, physically, or mentally. What used to be a term for a broad set of conditions is now an official medical diagnosis. That's important because until it was given official recognition, people just believed they had to ride out whatever they were experiencing. Here's an example.
You've had enough. You can't do this for another minute. The environment, your team, your coworkers, your spouse, or some other situation has you on the verge of a mental or physical breakdown. Before a doctor could diagnose you as suffering from burnout, you may have been told to "tough it out."
In many cases, this is what we tell ourselves. While we recognize that our situation is beyond difficult in some way, we feel like we should be able to push through. That is definitely not the best course of action if you have a case of burnout working against you.
Look out for These Common Causes of Burnout
A person will suffer from burnout because they have been pushed past their emotional, physical, or mental breaking point. It's not just a case of someone working many long hours and being physically tired.
It usually happens because a person is not in control of the situation they are forced to endure.
They have to put up with emotional, physical, or mental stress. There is no letting up. They feel they have no control over the process. A workload on the job or at home looks like it's insurmountable. Personal responsibilities that must be met continue to build until they create a perceived disaster situation.
A person feels they don't have the tools, resources, or personal abilities to handle their life or job satisfactorily.
All of these situations can be caused by the following factors.
• Monotonous, challenging/ demands/ loads that seem to grow quicker than progress
• Having a continual lack of control, either at work or in personal life
• Seeing little to no rewards for your time and effort
• Feeling a lack of support and community
• The perception that are the only one that has to go through harsh or difficult times
• Toxic environments that threaten your values, and possibly physical or mental health
Not all burnout is job-related, you can see that these common causes of a breakdown can happen at home, in a person's social life, and at work. Avoid them whenever possible. If you suspect that you or someone you care about is a prime burnout candidate, talk to a coach or mental health professional.
As with any other wellness challenges, prevention is always the best medicine.
Enjoy this short meditation to gain calmness and let go of Burnout;
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