When you’re living in a state of chronic stress, burnout is a very real danger. Burnout is when you reach a point where the demands upon you outweigh your resources to be able to deal with them. It represents a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion.

It’s possible to heal from burnout, but it can be a slow process. Prevention is always better than cure, so it makes sense to invest time and energy into taking steps to stop burnout in it’s tracks. So how can you prevent burnout?

Notice the warning signs

Think of your system as a car. Sometimes the car will break down, and there are usually a few warning signs before that happens. The “Check Engine” light comes on, there’s a weird rattling under the hood or the steering feels a bit wobbly. Your body has it’s own ways of signaling that something isn’t quite right, and it’s important to pay attention if your Check Engine light is blinking. Keep an eye open for the warning signs of burnout, and if you notice them creeping in, begin putting measures in place to turn things around.

Get some rest

One of the most effective ways to reduce the likelihood of burnout is to ensure that you’re getting proper rest. Rest means not only good quality sleep, but also downtime and relaxation.

For many of us, our rest time isn’t always as restful as it could be. This could be because you’re being bombarded with distractions (such as scrolling on your phone while trying to unwind), because your space isn’t wired to allow your senses to rest (it’s too noisy, hot/cold, bright) or because you have a lot of guilt and shame about “doing nothing”.

Planning dedicated rest time to unplug and indulge in quiet, gentle activities gives your brain and body a chance to unwind and let go of the stress and tension that you’re carrying around. It helps you to get better quality sleep, and it can stave off impending burnout.

Reduce demands

It’s likely that you’ve got a lot of plates spinning, and you’re frantically running between them trying to keep them from crashing to the floor. Between work, family commitments, social obligations, hobbies, self care and home maintenance, you’ve got a lot going on.

When you begin to notice those signs of burnout creeping it, it’s time to do a little life audit and figure out if there are any obligations that you could let go of or pause for a little while. Reducing the number of things you’re trying to do gives you a bit of breathing space and lets you catch up a little.

Indulge in things that fill your cup

If you notice that you’re beginning to feel burned out, take the time to think about the things that leave you feeling content and satisfied, and devote a bit of time to doing these things. Maybe you love watching movies with your family, painting, singing, driving to new places, trying new recipes or just cuddling with your pets. Finding activities that allow you to breathe easy and sink into them gives you an opportunity to let go of your stress and truly relax and enjoy yourself.

Move your body

Exercise is truly one of the best things that you can do for your physical and mental health. It burns up your stress hormones, promotes good digestion, reduces muscle tension and helps you sleep better. And it can be fun. It’s important to find a form of movement that feels enjoyable to you. Don’t force yourself to do an activity that you hate, because it’ll feel like punishment and you won’t want to keep it up. If you don’t love “traditional” exercise, try throwing on your favourite album and dancing it out, going out into the yard to play with your kids, grabbing a hula hoop or skipping rope or just having a stretch on the loungeroom floor. Any kind of movement counts, and it will be most impactful and sustainable if you can find something that you actually like.

Paying attention to your body’s signals and upping your efforts to manage your stress will go a long way to helping you avoid burnout. If you’re worried that you might be starting to get burned out, and you’d like personalised support to help you move forward please feel encouraged to make an appointment.