Americans are known for the long hours we keep. We work a lot. A lot. That holds especially true for those who work in the health-care industry. Not only do you work long hours, but they’re long hours on your feet putting in hard work.
Even for the most dedicated caregiver, it will weigh on you, bringing you down until you succumb to the pressure. To keep yourself from bottoming up, though, be mindful of the signs of burnout.
If you utter one or many of the following statements on a regular basis, you could be on the road to burnout. If they all sound familiar, you might already be there.
I’m so exhausted
If you wake up from a solid night’s sleep and you’re exhausted before you get to the bathroom, you have a problem. That exhaustion clings to you throughout your day and comes in waves of emotional to mental to physical exhaustion.
I’m so irritated
Do you just wish everyone would leave you alone? And not just coworkers you’ve always found to be annoying, but also your family and friends? When you’re burnt out, you isolate yourself from others to the retreat of your own private world. You have no use for activities and people you used to find interesting.
I’m so negative
Do you feel like everything you do has no purpose and that you’re helping no one – including yourself? Things you used to be optimistic about, such as your career path and employer, are now sources of negativity?
I’m sick all the time
Chronic stress does nasty things to your immune system. It will weaken your defenses and you’ll become more susceptible to infections and colds.
I can’t concentrate
When you’re chronically exhausted, you’ll start to experience cognitive problems. Do you have trouble concentrating? Can’t hold your attention for long? Always forgetting details? People smarter than us have done the research on this. They’ll tell your brain was designed for short bursts of stress and can’t handle the prolonged stress you’re feeding it.
I’m so not into this
When you’re emotional exhaustion overtakes the passion you have for your work, you may feel like you’re tapped out. Like you’ve got nothing left to give. All those aspirations you once had are now just annoying reminders of how things used to be.
I’m so unhealthy
Can you remember the last time you went to the gym or cooked a healthy meal at home? No? That’s not good. Are you self-medicating for ailments like lack of sleep and low energy? That’s not good either.
So, is this you?
If this sounds all too familiar, you need to take a step back and reclaim your life and your passion. Continuing to pour yourself into your job, hoping it will get better, won’t work. It hasn’t worked so far, has it?
You’re giving away most of your energy to something you don’t even enjoy. That doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Thanks for reading,
