Running out of gas? Recognising the signs of burnout before it's too late. Burnout is one of those road hazards in life that high-achievers really should be keeping a close eye out for, but sadly—often because of their "I can do everything" personalities—they rarely see it coming. Because high-achievers are often so passionate about what they do, they tend to ignore the fact that they're working exceptionally long hours, taking on exceedingly heavy workloads, and putting enormous pressure on themselves to excel—all of which make them ripe for burnout. What is burnout? Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to:
When in the throes of full-fledged burnout, you are no longer able to function effectively on a personal or professional level. However, burnout doesn't happen suddenly. You don't wake up one morning and all of a sudden "have burnout." Its nature is much more insidious, creeping up on us over time like a slow leak, which makes it much harder to recognise. Still, our bodies and minds do give us warnings, and if you know what to look for, you can recognise it before it's too late. What are the signs of burnout? Each of the three areas described above is characterised by certain signs and symptoms (although there is overlap in some areas). These signs and symptoms exist along a continuum. In other words, the difference between stress and burnout is a matter of degree, which means that the earlier you recognise the signs, the better able you will be to avoid burnout, if you do something to address the symptoms when you recognise them). Signs of physical and emotional exhaustion:
Signs of Cynicism and Detachment
Signs of Ineffectiveness and Lack of Accomplishment
If you're not experiencing any of these problems, that's great! However, you should keep these warning signs in mind, remembering that burnout is an insidious creature that creeps up on you as you're living your busy life. If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, this should be a wake-up call that you may be on a dangerous path. Take some time to honestly assess the amount of stress in your life and find ways to reduce it before it's too late. Burnout isn't like the flu; it doesn't go away after a few weeks unless you make some changes in your life. And as hard as that may seem, it's the smartest thing to do because making a few little changes now will keep you in the race with a lot of gas to get you across the finish line. About Fiona Dunkley Fiona Dunkley is a BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, is also a member of EMDR, UKRCP and ESTSS. Fiona founded FD Consultants, offering psychosocial support and trauma specialist services for humanitarian aid organisations. Fiona worked within the NHS, with emergency first responders and was the lead counsellor at Transport for London. She helped develop a critical incident plan after the 7/7 bombings. She has presented on ‘Good Morning Britain’ as a trauma expert, has published several articles and has been asked to speak at various international conferences. Fiona Dunkley's new book has been described as 'the only source that explores the impact of trauma and critical incidents on aid workers, including sexual violence' and 'the book examines the impact of cumulative stress and trauma on the aid worker and provides practical actions to offer recovery and healing.' Psychosocial Support for Humanitarian Aid Workers, is available from Amazon.
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