“Even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am.”
Janelle Monae
The stigma surrounding mental health can prevent us from seeking help or taking the necessary steps to prevent emotional burnout. I remember believing, on some level, that I was making these sudden feelings of fatigue and inadequacy all up. That I just needed to get out of bed and do something. It never occurred to me that maybe it was something deeper than just having ‘one of those days.’ But I opened up to my family and friends about how I was feeling, and they were quick to let me know I wasn’t alone.
Nowadays, I’m guilt-free, knowing that emotional burnout is a very real, very common thing, and I’m motivated, now more than ever, to manage those times when I feel burnt out. That’s why I’d like to do for you what my friends and family did for me, and show you that you’re not alone. We’ll discuss how you can not only recognise when you’re running low on fuel, but implement strategies to help you get back in the driver’s seat.
What is Emotional Burnout?
Emotional burnout is an extended feeling of detachment and fatigue. Similar to depression, emotional burnout can make it more difficult to enjoy our hobbies and passions, not because we don’t want to, but because there is some unseen force keeping us down.
What Causes Emotional Burnout?
The causes of emotional burnout can be a number of things such as stress and anxiety, whether they’re triggered by pressure in the workplace or at home. If we ignore these feelings, they can lead us to make decisions we typically wouldn’t even consider. Quitting a job, ending a relationship, or lashing out at our loved ones; the type of decisions you don’t want to make when your emotions are out of sorts. Signs you may be burnt out differ from insomnia and body aches, to isolation and self-doubt, because emotional burnout takes a toll both physically and mentally.
Why Are Women More Prone to Burnout?
Studies show that women are more likely to experience emotional burnout than men. Reasons vary from a hefty stack of responsibilities in the household to severe emotional labour in the workplace. Due to the pressure for women to fit a certain societal mould, it’s unsurprising we’d burn out faster and more frequently.
How to Recover From Emotional Burnout
The most important thing when recovering from burnout, is to be patient and kind with yourself. Here are just a few different ways to help yourself get through emotional burnout.
1. Indulge in Your Hobbies
When we’re focusing on making ourselves available for everyone else, we forget to prioritise the things we enjoy. So, whatever those things may be, ensure that you spend plenty of time on them. Taking the time to pursue our own passions reminds us that there are good things we have that outweigh the bad. Working your way to fully participating in your hobbies again can be a key part of your recovery strategy.
2. Set Realistic Goals
One way we unintentionally burn ourselves out is by always reaching for the stars. Usually, this would be an admirable goal and a good motivator, but constantly holding ourselves to such high expectations is the perfect recipe for burnout. A ‘realistic’ goal looks different for everyone, whether it’s making the bed or breaking a larger task down into more manageable steps. But no journey is the same, so don’t compare and keep going!
3. Reach Out
One of the best things you can do when suffering from any sort of emotional distress is seek support. Having a heart-to-heart conversation with someone you trust can offer ways of resolving similar issues in the future and remind you you’re not alone.
How to Prevent Emotional Burnout
Emotional burnout can be prevented by applying a few changes to our daily routine. These changes may be big or small depending on the person, it doesn’t matter as long as it makes your life easier.
1. Get Enough Sleep
These days, it seems like no matter what you’re seeking advice for, you’re going to be told to get enough sleep. but that’s because sleep really has a significant impact on your mental health, which means it’s crucial when it comes to burnout! Letting your mind rest helps to refresh how you process stressful situations.
2. Create Healthy Routines
Routines provide us with stability and since emotional burnout tends to follow a period of feeling out of control, knowing what the day will offer a sense of relaxation.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be a vague term to many people, including myself, but the ways in which we can put it into action include following guided meditation and breathing exercises. These activities allow us to simply be where we are, avoiding the consuming thoughts of everything we could or ‘should’ be doing.
Bonnie Lynn is an English graduate and aspiring writer from the UK with an ever-growing passion for reading. She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, cuddles with her staffy dog, and relaxing with some good music.