Humans pass through many phases of life. Some of them are chaotic, stressful, and others are joyful. Basically, a lot of information gets processed over time with some leaving an indelible mark on the human psyche. As a result, it’s not uncommon to have such people become emotionally burnt-out. Further, there’s only so much the human mind can take before stress and mental fatigue sets in. The burnout can leave you drained, especially if it builds up over a period of time. The effects range from mild to catastrophic. This is because, without good emotional balance, resistance levels drop.
Even though there are warning signs, many people fail to pick up on them. You can chalk that up to many factors including ignorance.
Thankfully, with this article, you’ll come across five proven ways to help you avoid burnout emotionally.
But first, what is emotional burnout and what are the obvious signs to watch out for?
Meaning of Emotional Burnout
If you feel very tired or fatigued in line with your emotions, then you’re undergoing emotional burnout. It can be experienced by anyone but mostly by those who have strong feelings of empathy for others. While trying to deal with your emotions and those of others, a strain could form and over time, make you eventually burnout.
Furthermore, going through emotional burnout is not as mild as having the need to rest up or recharge in a short while. It is a deep feeling where every aspect of your emotional being is fed up and burnt-out.
Signs of Emotional Burnout
Different people experience emotional burnout in different ways. But such a feeling often flows from the following signs and symptoms:
- Inability to sleep or insomnia
- Headaches in varying degrees
- Physical exhaustion
- Depression or the tendency to slump into one
- Lack of motivation
- Irritability
- Apathy
- Withdrawal from others
- Limited sense of judgment
- Overt pessimism
These are some of the signs to look out for when you feel uninspired and lack the desire to do anything. Although, there are ways to avoid emotional burnout. Here’s how.
1. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Health is a very important factor if you’re going to have an emotionally balanced lifestyle. You need basic vitamins and nutrients that can only come from proper foods – but health doesn’t just revolve around what you eat. Health also involves having a good feel of nature or the outdoors and learning to appreciate each day. This is necessary because we often feel choked up by the hustle and bustle of daily living, the noises that come with that and our movements to different locations. Not to mention the thoughts that can be overwhelming. For this reason, it’s a great idea to experience the sunshine for a while, watch the trees sway and get familiar with the immediate surroundings.
Another thing to consider is exercise, for optimum well-being. In your bid to avoid emotional burnout, you’ll need a healthy mind and a body to go with it. Step out or get a space to unwind with simple exercises. Exercising helps release endorphin which is a hormone linked to being happy. It will liven up your mood, keep you positive and refreshed. But most importantly, a healthy lifestyle means there’s little room for emotional burnout to creep in.
2. Boundaries are Important
It’s easy to get caught up in many circumstances, plots and subplots. This is the case when we try to solve personal issues as well as be of help to others around us. That’s not a bad thing but there’s a tendency to get suckered in and eventually get stressed out emotionally. This is particularly the case when it’s difficult to say no to the demands of others. While it’s great to be always available, you’re often one step away from emotional burnout. To keep that from happening, you’d best-set boundaries. Boundaries are limits which you shouldn’t scale unless it’s for something absolutely important.
There are moments when those around you constantly seek your help to deal with their emotional problems. They forget you also need help and time to assess your own life. When this becomes a theme, you also lose sight of your own emotional needs and the signs begin to show. Further, a gradual breakdown starts and you’re left to pick up the pieces. What you should do is quit being everybody’s emotional support. Draw a line and take on only what you can handle. Also, make it known that you can’t be of help to everyone and for every situation. This way, you have less to worry about emotionally and avoid burnout.
3. Speak to Someone You Trust
Getting an earful from others can leave you drained physically and mentally. Add the processes involved in day-to-day activities and burnout emotionally is not afar off. For this reason, you need a listening ear; someone who’s eager to listen to what you have to say. Whether that’s your friend or someone trained for such purposes, it’s important you have someone to vent your thoughts and feelings to. In addition, speaking to someone is therapeutic and gives you the notion that your burden is shared. The saying that “a problem shared is half-solved” becomes a reality.
Being mentally and physically drained can happen once in a while. But you shouldn’t bare it alone. Sometimes you need to hear optimistic words to spur you on to higher levels. Also, recognizing you need help is a bold step in your bid to avoid emotional burnout. The mere presence of a person there to listen gives you a new lease of life.
4. A Break Can Work Wonders
If you’ve ever given so much thought to why the activities around you never seem to end, then you probably need to go on a break. It’s that simple. When you can’t sleep, think straight, focus and find everything irritable, it’s time to drop it all and head out. Rather than head to work or do something just as demanding, go somewhere quiet to spend some time. Further, you can experience something entirely new, hangout with trusted friends or see some art. Whatever gives you that inner peace, renewed focus, and motivation, helps you avoid emotional burnout.
Stress is one of the signs that precede emotional burnout and a break helps you figure things out. It takes your mind off stressful activities, thoughts and toxic atmospheres. Also, you get the chance to build up your energy before a renewed assault on life and her challenges. Whether you take a walk, go to a remote place, or go on a vacation, you’re taking a positive step that keeps emotional burnout at bay.
5. Practice Mindfulness
Everybody deserves to be happy. But sometimes, it’s easy to get lost in the past with thoughts of what could’ve been, or thoughts about the future and what it holds. This leaves you absent from the present circumstances and moments that surround you. You let your senses, thoughts and feelings wander about which ultimately leads to emotional burnout. What you can do is make efforts to be aware of the present by practicing mindfulness. For instance, when you’re with family and having a great time, enjoy the moment rather than appear lost in the present reality. Further, always consider how you feel at particular moments and in different situations. This way, you can control what you think about it.
There are many mindfulness techniques to help you avoid emotional burnout. They include breathing exercises, yoga, meditation and even walking short distances. As a result, your stress levels are reduced and you have less anxiety about the past and the future. Stay engaged in the present and focus your thoughts on optimistic relationships and events. This way, emotional burnout doesn’t take place.
Final Thoughts
The world is a fast-paced hub of activities and its quite easy to get lost with the thrills and frills it presents. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to how we feel most of the time. This way, emotions are checked, thus leaving emotional burnout out of the question. Further, rest is important. Get some sleep and relaxation time to unwind and regroup.
