The Burnout Blues

For me, I notice I start to be unable to focus first; I miss appointments or forget shifts, and when I make it to work I watch the clock and can’t finish a project. My mind is jell-o. My sleep is shifting; and not in a good way. Every time I think about my work, my heart beats faster, my palms start to sweat, and a sinking feeling settles in my chest-dread. My friends and family start commenting on me being down in the dumps or generally cynical about my job.

While burn out can manifest in various ways for various people, there’s a clear deficit of the energy, passion, and drive for work or life that you may have had before. Depending on the field, it can go by compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, burn out, and the Monday Blues.

There are several causes for this, and right now in our current climate, several factors out of our control that exacerbate it. This can range from feeling unsupported by management, unclear or unrealistic expectations, and a work/life imbalance.

Most of the time, when people are seeing me they’re already aware of the negative consequences burnout is having. I see any combination of outrageous stress and anxiety, body complaints, deteriorating relationships, sadness or hopelessness, and unhealthy coping strategies.

Our work together is about understanding what you have control over, and techniques that can help. Are there any work/life compromises you can make, or ways to lower expectations? Who and what brings you pleasure? Who can you talk to when the world seems to throw you off? How can you stay in the moment without judgment or analysis? How can you prioritize your physical state with sleep, exercise, and nutrition?

There is rarely a clearcut answer to burnout-if it was easy to leave your job, you would have done it. Maybe you still will. Will that solve everything?

I work from a focus of increasing self compassion and try and provide small measurable changes that will shift your mindset towards positivity, peace, and connection. It’s possible to change how you feel, your thoughts, and your perceptions. Let’s do it together.

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