Sleep-deprived, skipping meals and feeling overwhelmed by life? These are some of the signs of burnout. Find out how you can stop the cycle and get your life back on track.
Burnout is a malady that’s usually associated with high-flying professionals, caregivers and athletes. Unfortunately, being busy seems to have becomes a national pastime across the board these days, whether you’re a CEO packing in 18-hour days, a stay-at-home mother schlepping your kids to endless activities, or a member of the fast-rising “sandwich generation”, juggling work, family and ageing parents.
Between longer working hours and 24/7 connectivity to the office, kids and extended family, downtime has become a concept many of us can only dream of. “The issue today is that the demands don’t turn off when the sun goes down and it is time to relax,” says clinical psychologist Dr Peta Stapleton. “Our nervous system is firing all the time.” And if you keep pushing too hard you may be heading for a serious crash and burn.
What is burnout, exactly?
Burnout is defined as physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress, which can manifest in symptoms that look a lot like depression: you lose your motivation, your productivity dips and you’re overcome by feelings of cynicism and hopelessness. Red flags that you may be on the verge include feeling exhausted, irritable and constantly distracted; crying for no reason; feeling like you can never get to the end of your to-do list; and cancelling plans with friends and family because you’re just too busy.
A little stress, of course, is good for you: it’s what motivates you to meet daily challenges, perform tasks and achieve your goals. But there is a tipping point.
This story is from the April 2018 edition of The Malaysian Women\'s Weekly.
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This story is from the April 2018 edition of The Malaysian Women\'s Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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