Everyone wants to be successful these days. But to be successful in the modern sense, you have to be on top of things and act like a superhero when it comes to taking care of the details. And let’s face it – it’s not just work either that puts this type of pressure on the average person.
If you’re like the rest of us mere mortals, you probably don’t just have responsibilities at work either. Families require a lot of emotional energy and attention, even if you’re single. Birthdays, anniversaries, illnesses and other needs your loved ones have can pack your schedule to the brim with to-dos, even if it’s just sending a thoughtful card or email. It’s still a lot to think about and manage.
With so much to manage, it can be very easy to put your needs at the end of a very long (and ever-expanding) to-do list. But that’s a sure-fire recipe for burnout.
Burnout is a serious condition, and it can sap your energy, harm your immune system, and trigger anxiety and depression symptoms. The condition is a state of severe emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, and prolonged stress will trigger burnout. If you’re feeling emotionally drained and overwhelmed with life’s demands and responsibilities and are unable to meet these demands, it might be burnout. Burnout is an illness, and it will make you feel sick.
When you’re not feeling your best, a lot of important factors can fall through the cracks, like your mental and physical health. You may even do a less than stellar job taking care of all your responsibilities because you aren’t noticing that you aren’t firing on all cylinders. If you can’t manage your duties because of burnout, how can you enjoy your free time, dating, and relationships?
If you struggle with confidence or dating, protecting yourself against burnout is an important topic. Learning to value your feelings and needs is the road to learning how to become happier with yourself and how to choose the right partner.
How else can you truly begin to accept who you are and value your personal needs and health? How can a man fall in love with you if you don’t know who you are? And how will you be able to recognize Mr. Right when he comes along if you don’t know yourself and your needs?
For a lot of people, burnout is a sneaky condition, and they don’t always realize it’s happening to them until it’s too late. If you aren’t sure whether or not you’re neglecting yourself, it’s a good idea to take a look at these warning signs.
- You don’t get enough sleep.
When you don’t get the required 7-8 hours of sleep at night, it can make you more likely to develop everything from fatigue and irritability to confusion, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you live with sleep deprivation as a regular condition in your life, you are neglecting your basic physical and emotional needs. Making sure you get enough sleep is the same as making sure you get enough water to drink and good food to eat. Sleep is non-negotiable.
- You’re living on caffeine.
A couple of cups of coffee might be ok for you, but this study says that drinking more than 6 cups a day at 75 mg each can increase your risk of high blood pressure and increase your heart disease risk by up to 22%. Caffeine is not a replacement for restorative sleep and rest.
- You don’t take time to relax.
If you’re always focused on your responsibilities and worries, you never get a break. You need down time to rest if you want your mind to function at its best. If you can’t get your mind off your to-do list, you may need to speak to a therapist. They can help you refocus.
- You’re using a lot of alcohol or drugs.
You might be using substances to cope with the stress in your life, but that can compound all your problems. Although alcohol and drugs may give you an immediate feeling of relaxation, they can mess with the neurotransmitters in your brain and ultimately cause bigger issues like sleep problems, stress, or destabilization of your mood. People with certain genetic and temperamental dispositions are at-risk of becoming addicted.
- You don’t exercise.
Exercise helps you to manage stress, and it improves your mood, energy, sleep, and helps prevent or manage many health problems. When you exercise regularly, you’ll lose and maintain a healthy weight.
- You suppress your feelings.
When you’re stressed, it can help you to express how you’re feeling to friends, family, or a therapist. Getting another perspective can help you solve problems that you don’t know how to resolve.
- You don’t get the help you need.
Support is vital when you feel overwhelmed. It isn’t good to feel alone with all your problems. If you don’t have anyone in your family or friend circle to turn to, you might consider reaching out to someone in the clergy or mental health professional.
Are you taking care of yourself in these areas? Where could you improve? If you’ve experienced burnout before, what are you doing now to prevent it from happening again? Please let us know in the comments section.
