How do I escape!?
Anymore, it feels like the only way I know to talk about my burnout is escapism. It feels so daunting to know that even if I leave this position that's burning me out, I will have to take another. I feel like I need a minimum 3 years of just sleeping until noon and doing things that fill me up creatively to get away from this constant feeling of keeping head above water.
What's my next step, when even a baby step seems awful?
One thing I did was find a fun job that I loved, couldn't pay my car and sold it but you can make choices. Feeling like you have no choice is part of burnout.
I did that. I slept for three years lol. Its not as great as it might seem tho lol. But you do need some kind of community and support without fear of not being able to survive. Burnout is different from ordinary stress or even trauma. IMO part of it is psychological assault from the politics and society demanding we be productive at all costs when our productiveness is causing a domino effect of helath care nightmares that cost us billions a year. Ironic.
I have been in your shoes and felt the exact same way, I just wanted to sleep.
In order for me to catch my breathe I decided to look at my job as my bridge to freedom with doing what I wanted to do next. I took up meditation, a new nutrition plan massages and 3 day trips to place energy into the NEW ME of my NEW plan.
I suggest you find what lights you up and not let your job take any more mental energy when you are not there. This is a habit I had to break and once I did, I realized that I was making the job a 24/7 instead of what it really needed to be. I let go of control and learned to relax via meditation. Then I put an exit plan together.
I hope you can see that you are enough and you do have control over what YOU want. No job is worth your mental or physical health.
It's understandable that you're feeling overwhelmed and burned out. Dealing with burnout can be challenging, but there are steps you can take to begin addressing it and finding a path towards recovery. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Acknowledge your burnout: Recognize and accept that you are experiencing burnout. It's essential to understand and validate your feelings before you can start working towards a solution.
2. Self-care and relaxation: Prioritize self-care activities that help you recharge and relax. This could include practicing mindfulness or meditation, engaging in hobbies or activities you enjoy, spending time with loved ones, or simply taking breaks throughout the day to rest and rejuvenate. My company does micro breaks that are auto reminders. I used to ignore it before but now I never miss an opportunity to get away from PC and take a walk around for 2 mins
3. Assess your current situation: Take a step back and evaluate your current job and lifestyle. Identify specific aspects that contribute to your burnout. Consider whether there are any changes you can make within your current position to improve your well-being, such as setting boundaries, delegating tasks, or seeking support from colleagues or supervisors.
4. Explore other options: If you find that your current position is consistently causing burnout and there's no viable way to improve the situation, it may be worth exploring other career opportunities. Reflect on your interests, strengths, and values to gain clarity on what kind of work might be more fulfilling for you. Consider seeking guidance from career counselors or professionals who can assist you in exploring alternative paths.
5. Create a plan: Once you have a better understanding of your goals and desires, create a realistic plan to transition into a more fulfilling career or lifestyle. This could involve acquiring new skills or education, networking with professionals in your desired field, updating your resume, and actively searching for opportunities.
6. Seek support: Don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or even professional counselors or therapists who can provide emotional support and guidance throughout this process. Talking to others who have experienced similar situations can help you gain insights and perspective.
Remember, recovery from burnout takes time and patience. It's important to be kind to yourself and allow yourself the space to heal. Taking small steps towards positive change, even if they seem daunting at first, can gradually lead you to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
I hope this helps.
Personally I felt the most burnt out at my first job because of a manager who always enlisted women engineers for housekeeping work and all his male engineers to coveted projects that had more visibility. I was constantly fighting it and that caused burnout as well as fatigue. I changed to a different position internally and that helped.
Original Poster Here: I told my therapist that you guys all referred me to her, and she loves that you guys are encouraging me to get help! In all seriousness, though, yes; this is more than just the job. Thanks for helping me see it.
Burnout is all too common these days. FIRST-Be kind to yourself. Remember, you are surviving, step by step, day by day. We've been on screech for so long, it's hard to know what comes next. Having been there myself, my advice would be to set up an appointment with your doc to get screened for depression and discuss possible medications. Next, focus on the small not the large. Make a list- If washing and folding your clothes seems impossible, break it into smaller tasks. Wash clothes- Put in dryer- Fold clothes. Smaller tasks will make you feel like you have accomplished something. Check off things on your list. Visual proof you have accomplished tasks. With medical intervention and some small positive steps, hopefully you will be back to your old self soon.
I think your first step is to see your doctor and get screened for depression. This sounds like more than just burnout.
I was just wondering yesterday how many people are actually operating on autopilot due to functioning depression instead of "living their best life".
(There were many occasions that I arrived at work not having any idea how I got there).
In a situation such as yours, I would hold off looking for another role until your addressed your burnout & mental health.
To do that I would focus on controlling the areas of your life you can change. That means your selfcare and personal life. Do a review of your selfcare and start small. Get a smart watch if you don't already have one and find out the amount abd quality of your sleep and then adjust where needed.
Get a physical and make sure your hormones, thyroid and othere indicators are where they need to be and adjust for optimum health.
Get a dental exam to ensure your smile is gleaming.
Get a haircut to ensure you look your best.
Get outside for a walk or run or hike.
Listen to uplifting podcasts that explore tools you can use to understand your burnout and areas you can change.
Once these easy steps are addressed move into interests, hobbies abd volunteering. Connect with your internal and external world.
You don't have to take it all on at once but you absolutely have change the signals your brain is receiving so you can recharge and find new ways of living to spark energy and health.
Remember, you've been through so much over past 3 years. There has been an untold weight on you and it has worn you out. I have never met anyone struggling with burnout that had a wonderful stress free life personally. When your professional life is impacted greatly your personal life is strained as well.
To treat the burnout you must treat the person.
I sympathize. When I was burned out my therapist advised me that the key to getting past burnout was finding a new project or hobby I was passionate about. That sounds really hard when life is already exhausting, but it worked for me. Is there something f creative that you know you love, that you can try to do just 20 minutes of every day?