All Burned Out

You didn’t know you were headed for a collapse. You were stressed but believed things would eventually improve. And then came that final blow. That disappointment or set back that left you feeling helpless, pessimistic, and bitter! Your drive to be successful against a pulverizing year left you all burned out.

What are the signs of burn out, you might ask? Unlike exhaustion, which is typically cured with a vacation or good night sleep, burnout is when physical and/or psychological stress finally takes its toll. It’s when you’ve had enough and can no longer carry on. You might disconnect and begin pondering the meaning of success. You might even feel life isn’t worth living. Being burned out is just that detrimental! It can affect your health, relationships, even your line of work!

Hell, it’s a great chance you were burned out at work! Depressed economic conditions spawn overworked professionals, who in turn, feel undervalued. We all know recessions give employers the upper hand, and that they usually take advantage of it. They load their employees with responsibilities and pay them as little as possible—all in the name of crisis. The appreciation of having a job soon turns into resentment.

The quality of your work begins to weaken. You arrive to your job late and look for excuses to leave early. Pretty soon, you skip days at a time and could give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks! You take your frustration out on those you are closest to, and have absolutely no confidence your life will get better. Workaholics and those with Type A personalities should probably multiply these symptoms of being burned out by 10.

That’s why it’s important to treat burnout with preventative measures and avoid it altogether. As much as we all feed off a good challenge, it’s critical to take a step back and regroup. The life of a successful individual requires constant prioritizing of goals and responsibilities.

How to keep from becoming burned out

Start your day with something inspirational, like meditating or reading something that motivates you. Adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes diet, exercise, and plenty of rest. Manage stress and never spread yourself too thin. Finally, find something you’re passionate about that has NOTHING to do with your line of work, and use it as a creative outlet. Repeating these steps will not only cure your case of burnout, but help steer you from the heartache of success.

Burnout isn’t always brought on by big, life-changing events. Sometimes it’s the small things that send you over the edge. Have enough esteem and self-worth to prevent yourself from becoming all burned out. Because once it happens, you’re no longer good to anyone—not even yourself.

This is your Monday Unleaded for the week of May 12, 2013. Have a productive week!

Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Extended Mix) – S.O.S. Band