Life coaching for burnout
6 minute read
While working in healthcare, I’ve personally learned what burnout manifests as. It is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, and you find yourself feeling like no matter what you do, nothing is working to relieve this state of fatigue.
What are the signs and symptoms of burnout?
If you suspect you might be dealing with burnout, here are some common signs and symptoms to look out for:
Physical Exhaustion
You feel a constant lull of fatigue and lack of energy, even after getting the recommended time frame of sleep. Or you might be struggling with inadequate sleep due to insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns. Also you find yourself having frequent headaches, muscle tension, weakened immune system, and suffering from colds and illnesses more frequently. You may even find yourself experience digestive issues, stomach pains, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
Distrusting and Detached:
You find yourself with an increased sense of negativity and cynicism about work-related matters, and even about personal life matters. This leads to feelings of emotional detachment or feeling emotionally distant from colleagues and tasks. It’s almost like developing a "what's the point?" attitude towards work.
Reduced Personal Accomplishment:
Perhaps you’ve started to feel less effective and feel low self-esteem related to work performance, so much so that you’re trying to avoid the topic of talking about work all together. It’s being in the belief that your efforts are not making a significant impact and it leaves you with a diminished sense of pride in your work and accomplishments.
Decreased Performance:
You find yourself actually declining in job performance and productivity, or it becomes more difficult to concentrate and maintain steady focus. This can also look like making more mistakes than usual or heavily procrastinating on tasks and avoidance them all together. You’re simply withdrawing from responsibilities.
Increased Irritability and Impatience:
Your emotions have shifted from enjoyment, and curiosity to impatience and irritability. And you find yourself overreacting to your colleagues, clients, or customers. It’s like as if you’ve developed less tolerance for what you used to consider minor inconveniences. This heightened frustration spirals downward as you recognize the tasks that were previously manageable, now feel impossible. These roller coaster of emotions can be precursors to panic attacks, anxiety, or feeling completely hopeless and out of control.
Loss of Interest:
Work place burnout doesn’t just stay at work. You’re possibly finding yourself in loss of interest in activities or hobbies that used to bring joy and unable to find pleasure in activities outside of work.
Decreased Satisfaction and Engagement:
You feel a strong sense of dissatisfaction with your job and career, feel like you’re stuck in the motions and completely numb and indifferent to tasks, projects and even relationships inside the workplace.
What are causes that lead to burnout?
Burnout can be a complex issue that can be caused by a combination of various factors. These factors often accumulate over time, leading to the development of burnout. Here are some of the primary causes of burnout:
An excessive workload, unrealistic deadlines, and overwhelming job demands can create constant stress and pressure, leaving individuals with little time for relaxation or self-care.
Feeling like you have no control over your tasks, decisions, or work environment can lead to a sense of helplessness and frustration, contributing to burnout.
When your efforts and achievements go unnoticed or unrewarded, it can lead to feelings of underappreciation and reduced motivation, eventually leading to burnout.
Micromanagement and not having the freedom to make decisions within your role can make you feel stifled and diminish your sense of accomplishment.
When job roles and expectations are unclear, it can lead to confusion, frustration, and a sense of not knowing what you're supposed to do, causing stress and burnout.
An inability to separate work from personal life can lead to constant stress and exhaustion, ultimately contributing to burnout.
Feeling isolated from colleagues, lacking a sense of camaraderie, or facing unsupportive work relationships can make the work environment emotionally draining.
Insufficient tools, technology, and resources to perform your job effectively can increase frustration and hinder your ability to meet expectations.
When your personal values and beliefs are in conflict with the values of the organization or the work you're doing, it can lead to a sense of disillusionment and burnout.
Fear of losing your job or uncertainty about the stability of your position can lead to chronic stress and anxiety, contributing to burnout.
Feeling stagnant in your role with no opportunities for growth or advancement can lead to a sense of purposelessness and contribute to burnout.
A toxic or unsupportive workplace culture characterized by lack of communication, bullying, discrimination, or unrealistic expectations can significantly contribute to burnout.
Setting excessively high standards for yourself and feeling the need to achieve perfection can lead to constant stress and dissatisfaction, ultimately contributing to burnout.
Individual factors such as personality traits, coping mechanisms, and personal life circumstances can influence vulnerability to burnout.
Persistent pressure to meet targets, exceed expectations, or achieve results can lead to chronic stress and exhaustion over time.
It's important to note that these signs can vary from person to person, and not everyone will experience all of them. If you or someone you know is exhibiting several of these signs over an extended period, it's important to take action to address and manage burnout. It’s equally important in taking proactive steps to prevent burnout if you’re likely to develop it. Whether through self-care strategies, seeking support from a professional, or making changes in your work environment, it’s essential to develop a plan to help manage burnout more effectively.
How life coaching can be highly desirable to help you overcome burnout:
Life coaching offers a powerful and personalized approach to conquering the debilitating grip of burnout. With a skilled life coach by your side, you gain a supportive partner who understands the intricacies of your unique situation and provides tailored strategies to overcome burnout's challenges. Through insightful guidance, goal-setting, and action plans, life coaching empowers you to regain control of your life, identify the root causes of burnout, and implement targeted solutions. A life coach not only helps you recognize harmful patterns and behaviors but also equips you with practical tools to manage stress, redefine priorities, and establish healthier work-life boundaries. Life coaching also helps create sustainable changes that you can implement in the long term, along with a holistic point of view looking at how all aspects of your life are affected. You will learn to master setting boundaries, building resilience and developing conflict resolution skills. With unwavering support, you can rebuild your confidence, reignite your passion, and pave the way for a more fulfilling and balanced life. Life coaching isn't just a short-term fix; it's an investment in your long-term well-being, offering the guidance and strategies needed to not only overcome burnout but also thrive in all aspects of your life.
Ready to take control of your well-being and beat burnout? Start by implementing just ONE new self-care practice into your routine this week! Your mental and physical health matter, and taking small steps can make a big difference. Share your favorite self-care techniques in the comments below and inspire others to join you on this journey to a healthier, happier you.