What is burnout anyway?

In 2019, burnout was officially recognized as a work-related phenomenon that the World Health Organization defines as a detachment from work and a lost sense of meaning which includes feelings of exhaustion and inefficacy due to prolonged stress.

Burnout can happen to anyone, at any age or anytime. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. Burnout is especially rampant today because many workers feel they need to prove their worth and work harder to show it since they are not in a traditional office setting. Many employees also feel they can not say “no” to their employers without being targeted, demoted, or punished somehow.¹

Symptoms of burnout

Though not a medical diagnosis, burnout is linked to many health problems, including anxiety, diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, and gut issues. To ensure we nip burnout in the bud, here are a few symptoms to look out for ²:

• Mental exhaustion
• Difficulty seeing a purpose in your role
• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling depressed
• Feeling irritable
• Issues with attendance
• Frequent headaches
• Sleep issues
• Elevated blood pressure

Now that we know what to look out for and what burnout is, let’s focus on how to regain a healthy work-life balance.

How to counteract burnout

Unfortunately, when you’re working remotely, the work-life balance can become blurred. As a result, you can find yourself asking, is your home your office? Is your office your home? Where does proper rest exist? If you’re finding that you’re working too much and have lost your work-life balance, read on as we share our best tips for the “new normal” work-life balance.

Separating work and life to find balance

Achieving work-life balance has been something many have sought to do, even before working from home was popular as it is today. While it can be difficult (depending on your living arrangement,) using even a few of these tools will help ease you into a more balanced position.

Have a morning routine that does not include work.

Upon waking up, many people reach for the phone to check their inboxes. Let’s ditch this routine and create a new one. A few great ideas to include in your morning routine could be having a coffee ritual, going for a walk, getting a workout in, or meditating.

Have set office hours.

Since you have office hours at work, create office hours at home and make it a routine. For example, if you work from 8 am to 5 pm in the office, set the same hours at home and work them like you would in an office setting. Once the clock hits 5 pm, close your computer and step away from your desk.

Plan post-work activities.

If you have something to look forward to after work, your day will seem to go by quicker, and it will ensure you log off at a reasonable time. Plus, it’s a great way to unwind after the workday!

Designate an “office” space to help you better separate work and life.

Working in an office gives many a clear divide between work and play. Likewise, you can designate an “office” in your home that is a space to be productive and free of distractions. Even if it is small, let it be your space. Avoid going near your office during “after hours” and on the weekends so you can mentally split up work time and non-work time.

Make sure to take a lunch break and small breaks throughout the day.

Upon waking up, many people reach for the phone to check their inboxes. Let’s ditch this routine and create a new one. A few great ideas to include in your morning routine could be having a coffee ritual, going for a walk, getting a workout in, or meditating.

Using additional support to fight burnout

Burnout isn’t something everyone can recover from quickly. For most, it can take weeks, months, or even years to recover. The most critical step in healing is recognizing that your mind or body is not in a healthy space. Here are some additional resources and recommendations to help you on your road to recovery: 

• Reach out to your HR department: Find out how your company’s HR department can work with you to level-set job expectations and aid in recovery or prevention of burnout.
• Check out webinars and podcasts: There are many resources on the internet to help those suffering from burnout. Check out this FREE resource guide from The American Psychiatric Association as a starting point.
• GeniusRx social media accounts: This is a free resource for mental health and burnout and much more. We pride ourselves on sharing tons of helpful tips and tricks, as well as insightful content on our social media channels to help you live a more balanced and healthy lifestyle. So be sure to give us a follow!
• Consider talking to a therapist or counselor: There is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed–so many people nowadays use therapists to help with many issues, including burnout. These highly trained individuals can work with you privately, guiding you along a path to a more relaxed lifestyle. Therapists can also refer you to a specialist your symptoms of burnout are severe. In fact, medications such as fluoxetine or sertraline can help with anxiety and depression related to burnout ³.

Team up with GeniusRx to avoid burnout

Here at GeniusRx we know mental health matters and can work with you to offer affordable FDA-approved medications that help you combat the symptoms of burnout with fast and free delivery to your home. We know fighting burnout can feel like an endless battle but know you are not alone, and we are always here to help.

Contact us today or visit our website for more information.

Data and information from: 

(1) World Health Organization (2) WebMD (3) WebMD