Step by step, get away from Burnout
3 de July, 2019
There are days when tiredness sets in and despair begins to take hold… Have you ever thought about what this means for your health? If you identify with this feeling, it’s time to stop. Take a few days off, turn off your cell phone and, most importantly, don’t even think about taking your computer with you. Read this article and find out how to prevent burnout.
If you dedicate yourself 100% to your work and don’t know when to stop, this text is for you. If you’re in the habit of turning off your cell phone when you get home, but still can’t fall asleep without thinking about everything you have to do tomorrow, don’t run away, this text is still for you.
Nowadays, we spend more time at work than we do at home. Our life almost ceases to be our own and becomes focused solely on work. This transition is easy and, among many reasons, it also happens because we enjoy what we do too much. But are we aware that this can be fatal?
What is Burnout?
The issue is sensitive and, as of 2022, it will be included in the World Health Organization’s list of diseases. Burnout syndrome, as it is known, already affects a large proportion of workers around the world. In Portugal alone, in 2016, this problem affected 13% of the population, according to the Portuguese Association of Health Psychology.
Don’t join this list, start changing your habits now. Discover some attitudes that you can apply in your day-to-day life and that promise to improve your health.
How can I look after my psychological health?
You spend the day between meetings, tight deadlines and tasks that never let up. Stress is a logical consequence and even coffee breaks don’t help you decompress. At lunchtime, are you one of those people who eats in front of your desk to get some work done? Look after yourself and start changing now… We’ll give you some tips:
- The first, and one of the most essential, is to switch off every day. If you’ve already left the office, don’t look at your emails anymore. Stay away from your cell phone and don’t let work follow you home. Prioritize your daily tasks and organize your day better. Don’t take your worries with you and, if something is left behind, calm down, tomorrow is another day;
- The solution is to start delegating and asking for help. Sometimes it really is humanly impossible to do everything yourself;
- And if, when you go away for the weekend, you can’t stop looking at your phone, thinking about how many things you have to do on Monday, take a deep breath and forget about it. When the time comes, you’ll see, everything has a solution. Take advantage of your free time to rest and spend quality time together;
- Opting for a healthy diet and adhering to meal times and breaks is also essential. And if you don’t know how this influences your life and your state of mind, read on: Make your ideas healthier!
- In the meantime, I’m sure you’ve heard that sport is good for the mind. And isn’t it true? Now that the heat seems to be back, why not start walking outdoors? Take advantage of the green spaces and do some yoga or meditation.
If you include these tips in your daily routine, your day-to-day life will seem much easier. It really does make a difference, believe me.
Can my company also help prevent burnout?
The answer is yes! Change doesn’t just come from employees and, in this sense, there are also measures you can implement in your company:
- Promote healthy habits in your employees and you’ll soon notice an increase in productivity and performance;
- Invest in your people’s well-being and create dining and leisure areas with television and games, for example. If breaks are more fun, the days will seem shorter and much less tiring. Happy people are essential for successful projects.
- Provide your employees with regular psychological counseling. Even if they’re not aware of it, it’s always good to talk to someone.
Sometimes, without realizing it, the stress of everyday life can affect our health. Don’t let Burnout force you to stop, get ahead of it. Start looking after your health and that of your teams. Healthy and happy people produce more and better. Today, when you leave work, switch off and take advantage of the end of the day to rest and replenish your energy doing what you love. There’s more tomorrow.