Burnout is an important thing to take note of in any part of your life. Most people who have experienced burnout have felt it in their job or school, but it can also sneak its way into your everyday habits and behaviors.
What is Burnout?
People’s experiences with burnout vary, but the connecting thread is that it makes us lose interest and motivation. Burnout happens after putting constant, focused energy into a task, project, or list of obligations – leaving you little energy to keep going or use in other places that need it. Here are some signs and symptoms of burnout:
- Emotional Exhaustion: It can leave you feeling drained, overwhelmed, tired, and unable to cope with life’s circumstances.
- Mental Anguish: You may feel constant stress, anxiety, or irritability in response to things that normally wouldn’t bother you.
- Physical Effects: It can leave you physically exhausted and also cause headaches, stomachaches, or intestinal issues.
- Loss of Productivity: You may be unable to focus, lacking creativity, or find yourself taking more time to complete tasks and projects.
How Burnout Can Affect Your Weight
Burnout can penetrate all areas of your life, not just work or school. It can affect your food habits, physical activity, and energy level. It can also have an impact on your drive to get out of bed, leave your house, or commit to important acts of self-care.
Each of these things can even impact each other, creating a domino effect. It’s no wonder, then, how burnout can eventually take a toll on your weight.
Here are some examples: Burnout can…
- Lead you to binge or emotionally eat
- Make you too tired to exercise
- Increase stress, therefore raising your cortisol levels
- Diminish your drive to stick to healthy habits
- Prevent you from prioritizing health
What You Can Do
If you find yourself struggling with burnout, take some time to identify what is causing you to feel this way. Is it an unmanageable workload? Too many time commitments? Lack of support from your social circles?
Once you’ve identified what may be causing some of these problems, think of reasonable ways you can address it and come up with a solution. You should also take general preventative measures to keep you feeling alert and at your best:
- Make sure you get enough quality sleep.
- Set aside time for a non-work or school-related hobby.
- Limit time spent on digital devices.
- Take a vacation or a weekend getaway.
- Regularly do stress-relief activities such as frequent walks, spending time with loved ones, or even taking naps when you need them.
For more tips to avoid burnout, Click Here.
