The modern business world puts a massive toll on us. We’re forced to hustle all day long, every day, just to feed our families. As a result, more and more people are feeling worn out to the point where they’re incapable of performing daily duties. That said, it’s no wonder that many people seek help through depression therapy.
Stress and burnout, in particular, have become so widespread that they have reached an epidemic level. Long work hours coupled with community leave us wanting more from life. As if that wasn’t enough, we’re constantly forced to increase our productivity levels, even when we’re no longer capable of thinking.
In this article, we’ll explain the differences between burnout and stress, and how to counter these modern-day problems.
What Is Stress?
Stress is a common reaction to outside threats. It is a defensive mechanism that warns us of danger, as well as other types of pressure on our body and mind. Basically, it activates when something is going wrong, whether this is a real or perceived peril.
For example, feeling stressed is quite common before an important business meeting, college exam, or public speaking. In these situations, your body will experience an elevated heart rate, faster thinking, or an increase in energy. Once the initial wave of “strength” passes, stress will leave its impact on your body in the form of fatigue.
What Is Burnout?
Generally speaking, stress can be a positive thing as it forces you to fulfil certain duties toward your family, employers, and society as a whole. The problem occurs when the stress becomes a daily thing, to the point where you can no longer shake it off. This is where burnout comes into play.
In a nutshell, burnout is a prolonged state of being stressed. A person feels tension all the time, often not having any control over his or her life. We commonly associate burnout with the workplace, but the condition might also occur in other situations.
The main reason people feel burned out is that they have more on their plates than they can handle. It occurs in situations when an employee is forced to do something they don’t agree with or when they feel skipped or undervalued in the company.
Burnout leads to emotional exhaustion to the point where a person no longer feels well going to the office. You might lose interest in working, your hobbies, as well as other things that previously gave you pleasure. The worst thing about burnout is that prolonged exposure can result in some serious mental issues.
Differentiating Between Burnout and Stress
Although feeling stressed out from time to time is perfectly normal, you must be careful that it doesn’t become a daily thing. You must differentiate between these two states so you know how to counteract the issue.
Given that stress is much more mellow, recuperating isn’t that hard. In most cases, taking a few days off or visiting a spa should do the trick. However, if you’re feeling burned out, you should consider changing your job or even career.
Recognizing Stress
In most cases, stress affects you almost immediately. Your body will become alert to outside stimuli, coupled with a surge of energy. Depending on a person, stress might also manifest in certain body parts (tired shoulders, for example).
Temporary stress should be hard to detect. In case you’re feeling continuous stress, you might develop symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, or slight anxiety. Despite experiencing these issues, you should be able to fulfil your daily duties.
Recognizing Burnout
As mentioned, burnout is a result of prolonged stress. The best way to describe it is as a feeling of being emotionally drained. Many people feel like they can no longer fulfill the business or personal demands. Burnout will also make you avoid things that cause stress, which often results in people quitting their current employment.
The best way to describe burnout is like being emotionally drained. It is a feeling of hopelessness, where you’ve been facing an adverse situation for such a long time that you can no longer see a way out.
4 Methods for Dealing With Stress and Burnout
The good news is that, despite your situation, there are ways to handle stress and burnout. Each of these tricks is easy to implement but will make a massive change in your daily life.
1. Start Exercising
Exercising is the first thing doctors recommend for stress and depression. Just by walking around the neighbourhood, you’re able to release positive hormones in your body. Exercising is vital for regulating your sleep and appetite, both of which are vital for tackling mental exhaustion.
2. Take Breaks
Most people suffering from burnout are very disciplined and responsible. These are individuals who don’t know how to say no. So, if you want to get better, you must learn how to take it easy. Take breaks whenever you feel overwhelmed, whether at work or when you get back home.
3. Set Boundaries
As mentioned, people who get easily stressed are usually those who are excessively polite. So, it is crucial to set boundaries. Explain to your boss that you’re not available after hours and that you won’t be answering emails and phone calls. These boundaries also work well with your partner and other family members.
4. Improve Diet
Similar to exercising, a proper diet gets your organism back to its natural, balanced state. You must introduce a lot of healthy, organic food while avoiding heavily processed groceries. You should pay attention to how you prepare your meals. Ideally, you should only cook or boil your veggies and meat to get as much nutritional value as possible.
Conclusion
Whether we’re talking about burnout or stress, you must take care of your mental state. Avoid anything that sets you off, and look for ways to improve your work/home communication. Most importantly, avoid doing things that are mentally exhausting and put you on the edge.