How to Cure Burnout and Start Enjoying Your Life Again

Have you ever felt completely drained and overwhelmed by work? Or have little to no motivation to do anything at all?

Then you might be experiencing burnout. It’s unfortunately a common condition among people within the productive age range.

But before knowing how to cure burnout and to recover from burnout, in a, it’s best that we also understand the symptoms of burnout and what causes it.

What is Burnout?

Burnout happens when the physical, mental, and psychological exertion from stress finally affects your body and mind.

In turn, it causes fatigue and makes you feel disconnected from everything around you—from your loved ones, hobbies, and even your job.

Aside from feeling worn out, burnout can also negatively affect the way you see yourself. People who experience burnout often have a reduced sense of accomplishment and a dissociation of personality.

To recover, you must first learn how to identify burnout. On top of that, you can also prevent it from happening again in the future.

With that said, here are six common symptoms that could indicate burnout:

1. Emotionally Drained

Burnout can cause extreme emotional depletion. This will make it hard for you to maintain relations with other people because it requires a high level of emotional energy. 

In the end, you may struggle to delegate work, maintain conflict, and socialize.

2. Physical Symptoms

High levels of stress can cause cortisol levels to rise. It will trigger physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive complications, muscle tension, and high blood pressure.

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3. Lack of Motivation

When you’re going through burnout usually have little to no motivation to do anything, especially work. It doesn’t mean that you don’t try to maintain it at all, but oftentimes it would only make the issue worsen.

One of the most prominent pieces of evidence of a lack of motivation is when you start having Sunday Scaries, where you start worrying about the upcoming work responsibilities that await you.

4. Declining Productivity

Being productive requires a lot of stamina and energy, which you barely have when you lack motivation. So if you notice that your work performance starts to decrease, it may be a sign of burnout.

5. Low Self-Esteem

As a response to declining productivity, you might also start being a little hard on yourself.

Burnout prevents you from doing your best, in turn making you doubt your capabilities or undermining your achievements.

6. Detachment

Burnout could cause extreme exhaustion. You may have no energy to maintain your relations, choosing to isolate yourself from the rest of the world.

What Causes Burnout?

So then, how did you get to that point? Here are the leading causes of burnout:

1. Workload

Maintaining a work-life balance is important to help you feel rested and fulfilled. When you have a heavy workload, you can’t maintain that easily. It becomes difficult to find room for growth and restore balance.

2. Reward

When the effort you put into the job doesn’t reap a worthy reward, you would start feeling underappreciated. It can lead you to question your self-worth.

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3. Feeling out of Control

Feeling like you lack autonomy in your life and decisions can hugely impact your well-being.

For example, when you have to constantly be on standby for work, it may feel like abandoning the rest of your priorities and even yourself.

You’ll be spending more energy on others than on yourself. A lot of times, it can contribute to a low sense of self-worth, too.

4. Relations

Being around negative people can really affect you. After all, your state of mind is immediately affected by the people you surround yourself with.

For example, if they’re constantly being dismissive of your feelings, then it may affect the way you see yourself as well.

5. Values

If you work for a company that doesn’t share your values, it can be hard to stay motivated or productive. Ideals and motivations often go hand-in-hand, after all.

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How to Cure Burnout

Curing burnout is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done though. You just have to trust the process and be patient with yourself.

To start your healing journey now, here’s a list of things you can do to cure burnout:

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1. Recognize The Signs

First thing you want to do to recover from burnout is to find out the key signs of the burnout, such as forgetfulness, reduced work satisfaction, strained relationships, and physical symptoms. Burnout’s impact extends to work performance, disrupts personal life, and escalates health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and even depression. It’s essential to address burnout promptly as it often worsens over time. Take the next ten steps toward recovery.

2. Building a Support System

Surrounding yourself with a great support system can provide a safe space to help alleviate your stress.

Be sure to have positive people around you. These are the people who share the same values as you, the people you don’t have to pretend with, and the people can definitely lean on.

3. Journaling

Try to take on some journaling. It can help you prioritize your workload or chores, navigate your emotional response to stress, and plan out your days.

While trying to make a habit out of it can be a lengthy process, it will be well worth it in the end.

4. Exercising

Another routine you should upkeep is exercising. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown workout. Instead, you can take on some online yoga classes or a simple walk around the neighborhood. 

The purpose of exercising is to help your body release tension and produce endorphins, which can help relieve pain or reduce stress.

5. Learning Stress-Management Techniques

There are overall five different stress-management techniques meant to clear the mind. Here are some things you can try, find one that fits you and try applying it daily:

• guided meditation
• mindful breathing
• healthy diet and exercise
• managing social media time
• connecting with other people

6. Speaking Up for Yourself

Set up some boundaries by speaking up for yourself. After all, you know yourself best, including your capabilities and limitations.

From now on, know when to say no to a coworker’s request and learn to object to responsibilities outside of your job description.

7. Going on Vacation

Going on a vacation can give you a chance to refresh. It alleviates you from work responsibilities and gives you a moment to focus on yourself.

So, be sure to do the things you love, visit new places, and try on new foods during your vacation!

8. Seeking Professional Help

When you have tried everything but feel like your burnout isn’t getting any better, maybe it’s time to consider seeking professional help.

Remember that it isn’t a sign of weakness; instead, it’s a sign of courage in facing your problems and dealing with them head-on.

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9. Eating is the Primary Key

Food is the body’s primary energy source to carry out various activities. If you feel tired, you may need more nutrients from eating.

You need highly nutritious food to keep your body healthy and fit, not just to fill an empty stomach.

10. Drink More Water

Stay well hydrated to keep your body running at optimal levels. Dehydration can cause low energy levels.

According to a 2014 study, increasing water intake in people who usually don’t drink enough water was found to benefit a person’s energy.

People who reduce their water intake have fewer feelings of calm and fatigue more easily.

11. Improve Sleep Habits

Proper rest is essential to maintain energy levels throughout the day. Relax before bed.

Do some light stretching. Improve your sleeping area by keeping it clean and maintaining an appropriate temperature.

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Take a Healing Trip, Stay at Bobocabin

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Each cabin is equipped with facilities unique to Bobocabin such as Smart Window and B-Pad. Adjust the window tint according to your liking for maximum privacy and comfort.

Breathe in the fresh, unpolluted air of Indonesia’s iconic natural sites and make use of the campfire and barbecue facility for some quality time.

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