My Experience with Burnout

Watch out - Burnout can creep up very slowly.

I’ve had my own experience with burnout. It took me by surprise. I experienced several major stressful events consecutively over a period of a few years both personally and professionally. I was also a workaholic. Being a 70’s born child, I grew up in an era, where ‘just getting on with it’ was the norm, rather than talking about your feelings.

Initially I felt I was coping reasonably ok. Collectively after each event occurred, I noticed small subtle changes (which I continued to soldier on with) until I reached a point where I literally felt like I had walked into a brick wall and had the life sucked out of me. I was constantly tired, irritable or teary, couldn’t focus, couldn’t sleep and then slept too much, was socially withdrawing but felt isolated, the list goes on.

So, my recovery was a result of a combination of things:

• I took time off from work,

• I got a dog, that helped me with a routine, and encouraged me to exercise daily – even if was a 5-minute walk – I pushed myself to do it,

• I set some work and personal boundaries,

• I made changes to my diet (although this is still a work in progress),

• I talked to loved ones and friends about what I was experiencing and sought extra support on the not-so-great days,

• I sought professional help from a Counsellor.

Everyone’s experience and reason for burnout is different. It could be a result of:

• Doing work that you don’t find exciting or challenging or stressful,

• Having unrealistic expectations placed on you,

• Not having enough time to relax and recharge,

• Having energy draining relationships,

• Taking on too many responsibilities, including carer responsibilities,

• Feeling unable to set boundaries and say “no” to things you don’t want to do.

If you need support, please reach out and send me a message.