4 Ways To Beat Burnout And Prevent It Happening Again
Your best self awaits
For better or for worse, stress is a totally normal part of life – we’ve all felt a lil’ overwhelmed, whether it be from work, family, or *that* episode of Succession. But when the stress is relentless and feels like there’s no end in sight, our minds and bodies can reach breaking point, also known as burnout.
To help you identify the signs of burnout, overcome it, and prevent it in the future, we spoke to leading Sunshine Coast mindset and energy coach, Bhavna Megh of Stepping Into You. Dedicated to helping her clients release anxieties, worries, and stress to live life to the fullest, she shared her tips and tricks for kicking goals while maintaining your peace below!
What is burnout?
Put simply, burnout is a state of complete exhaustion – mental, physical, or emotional. “It’s an accumulation of multiple events stemming from the same problem or from multiple life areas,” Bhavna said. “There’s a tendency to push through – we experience an irritation, but we bury it to get on with things or ignore it as a one off. The challenge occurs when we don’t process the emotions we experienced.”
While there are many causes of burnout, it’s usually associated with internal or external stressors. In Bhavna’s clients, she’s seen burnout as a result of turbulence in relationships, financial challenges, overworking, being away from loved ones, or health and weight problems. “Burnout is your body’s way of saying ‘no more’, ‘that’s enough’, ‘I’m out of here!”..
What are the signs of burnout?
The tell-tale signs of burnout are broad and varying, from loss of appetite to having a shorter fuse or relying on vices more regularly. Drawing back from activities or people that are usually important to you could be a sign of burnout, as well as disturbed sleep, or an overall sense of negativity – whether it be complaining more about others or a general sense of not feeling good in yourself.
How do you overcome burnout?
According to Bhavna, overcoming burnout can be achieved by adding the following simple exercises and practices into your everyday:
- Conscious breathing: take five throughout the day to be with your breath, noticing where there’s tightness and where there’s ease.
- Exercise: cortisol and adrenaline are the two hormones released when you experience stress, so cardio exercise like a run, brisk walk or kickboxing is a great way to release the energy from your limbs.
- Meditation: regular mediation trains you to be in homeostasis and experience a moment of balance and peace, allowing you to process stress triggers much more easily and quickly.
- Work with a coach or therapist: when you’re experiencing burnout, working with a coach is very beneficial to feel supported and guided to do deeper releases. Coaches can also help you become more aware of yourself and your triggers (and release those too!).
How do you prevent burnout?
Besides practising the above exercises on the regular, taking time to be in nature is super powerful for rebalancing your body’s energy and grounding you, ultimately preventing burnout. It’s also important to remember that rest and recovery isn’t a reward but a necessity. “Often my clients don’t feel they’re allowed or deserving to take care of themselves and experience burnout pleasing others,” Bhavna said. “Your own cup needs to be full to be able to give better and more healthily to others.”
Self-care should also become a daily practice, rather than being treated like a yo-yo diet. “It doesn’t always take a lot of effort, but it does absolutely require choosing it.”
“Being in balance is not selfish, it’s necessary to living,” Bhavna said. “Don’t just be alive, live.”
Stay on top of your game by booking a 1:1 consultation with Stepping Into You here.
