If you’ve recently felt constantly tired, struggled to switch off from work, or found it harder to stay motivated throughout the day, you’re certainly not alone.
Many people in the UK are experiencing similar challenges, especially as the lines between work and personal lives have become increasingly blurred in recent years.
In fact, the Guardian states that more than 75% of people experience burnout in their lives, though many common assumptions about its causes and symptoms are often misunderstood.
While burnout is usually associated with being “too busy” or overworked, the reality is often much more complex.
Continue reading to discover what burnout is and some practical steps you could take to manage it.
Burnout is often caused by prolonged stress and can affect how you work
Burnout is typically described as a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress that isn’t dealt with.
While heavy workloads can contribute to it, burnout is rarely caused by just one factor.
Indeed, it often develops over time due to a combination of pressures, such as:
- Consistently high workloads with little time to rest or recover
- Blurred boundaries between work and personal life, especially when working from home
- Constant connectivity, including emails and notifications outside of working hours.
Over time, these pressures can significantly affect your mental wellbeing. You don’t simply feel tired when you’re burnt out – it can lead to exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, reduced motivation, and a feeling of detachment from your career.
As a result, tasks that once felt manageable may quickly begin to feel overwhelming, making it harder to maintain focus or productivity.
Left unaddressed, this can affect your performance at work and your overall wellbeing.
3 simple and practical ways you can manage and reduce burnout
Thankfully, there are steps you could take to manage burnout and regain some much-needed balance. Read on for three practical tips.
1. Create clearer boundaries between your working and personal time
One of the more common contributors to burnout is the feeling that you never truly switch off from your work.
If you regularly check emails in the evening, take calls outside working hours, or feel the need to always be available, it can become difficult to rest and recharge properly.
Over time, this lack of separation between your work and personal life can lead to a constant sense of pressure.
Setting clearer boundaries could help you create the space needed to recover. For instance, you might:
- Set a defined “end” to your working day and stick to it when possible
- Turn off any email or message notifications outside of working hours
- Avoid checking work apps first thing in the morning or late at night.
These small changes could quickly help reinforce the idea that your time outside of work is just as important as your time within it.
2. Take time off before you feel too overwhelmed
It can be tempting to push through periods of stress and only take time off when you feel completely exhausted.
However, waiting until you reach this point can make recovery more challenging. Instead, it might be prudent to take breaks proactively before burnout takes hold.
Some people are now exploring the idea of a “workation”, where they work in a different, more relaxed environment, as a way to reset mentally while still remaining productive.
Even if this isn’t practical, there are other ways to build rest into your routine, namely by:
- Taking regular annual leave rather than saving it all for later
- Scheduling more short breaks throughout the day to step away from your desk
- Planning time away from your usual environment, even just for a day or two.
Taking this time to step back could reduce your stress levels, improve your focus, and help you return to work with more energy.
3. Recognise the signs early and take the appropriate action
Burnout often develops gradually, making it easy to overlook in its early stages.
You may initially notice seemingly insignificant changes, such as feeling more tired than usual or struggling to concentrate.
If you do ignore these signs, they can build up over time and eventually become more challenging to address.
Conversely, recognising these early indicators could allow you to take steps before your burnout worsens.
This might include:
- Speaking to your employer or manager about your workload
- Reassessing your priorities to identify areas where you can reduce pressure
- Making time for activities that help you recharge, such as exercising or socialising.
It’s also vital to remember that burnout isn’t just a sign of working too hard or lacking resilience. In many cases, it’s the result of sustained pressures.
As such, taking action early could help prevent more serious effects later down the line.
Get in touch
We could help you manage your finances so you can focus on recovering from periods of burnout.
To find out more, please contact us by email at info@investmentsense.co.uk or call 0115 933 8433.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
