7 Signs You Have Major Burnout and What to do about It ...

Many careers are associated with burnout, including surgeons and social workers who spend their days in emotionally draining situations and who work long hours. However, in an era where everyone wants to be the best at everything, burnout is becoming more common among other populations as well. If you check your work email even during your off hours or you stretch yourself to the limit for your kids’ sports teams, you are at risk of burnout.

When you can be reached at all hours of the day or night and have access to a huge amount of info all at one time, it can really drive burnout. People are more likely to suffer from it these days because they feel like they always have to be on. After all, why should anyone have to wait to get in touch with you when you carry a laptop, smartphone and tablet with you everywhere you go?

Why? Because women tend to be givers, which means they are more likely to spend all their time and energy on their kids, husband, co-workers or friends. That’s great, but you have to resist the urge to give everything you have because women who do that are at a higher risk of burnout. You need time for yourself to prevent it from happening.

When I’m nearing burnout, I tend to start feeling resentful of my husband wanting my attention and my kids waking up for a drink of water in the middle of the night. If you feel like this, chances are you are on burnout mode. If you feel like you can’t give anymore, it’s important to take a step back and pamper yourself a little because a nasty, cynical attitude isn’t good for you or the people you love.

If you’re burned out, you will work and work and feel like you aren’t getting anywhere. That’s because your mind and body aren’t working at their peak, which interferes with productivity. If that happens to you, it’s time to make cuts somewhere so you can reenergize your mind and body for a few days.

My husband works nights, which means I’m often on my own for dinner, homework, baths and bedtime with my kids. When it gets to be too much on top of housework, my job and my volunteer time, my parents are on speed dial to back me up. Just knowing that tomorrow they have the kids for a couple of hours is often enough to hold off the burnout until I can take care of myself for a while. Build a network of support to fall back on and you are at a lower risk of burnout.

I’m a definite perfectionist so this is hard for me. I’ve had to really learn to let go and say that the dishwasher might not be loaded the way I would do it, but if my 7th grader is willing to do it for me, I’ll take it and focus on something else. Over time, I’ve noticed that my burnout levels are much lower. You can do it!

Do you suffer from burnout? How do you deal?