When we feel our best, we perform our best! Did you know workplace stress can lead to burnout? Chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed leads to an occupational phenomenon called burnout. According to the World Health Organization, burnout is a syndrome that is characterized by exhaustion, increased negative thoughts and feelings, and lack of productivity in the work place. Whether you are going into work or working from home, the COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the way you work. How you cope with stress can affect your well-being, family and workplace. To fix and avoid burnout you have to know what triggers your stress. Life is too short to be suffering through burnout. Here are some tips that can help with identifying burnout.

The 5 most common causes of burnout are:

1. Feeling under appreciated, not feeling listened to or heard.

2. No joy or meaning from the work you do, your values do not align with your situation.

3. Overworked, a pile of responsibilities or tasks, experiencing unfair treatment.

4. Toxic environment, lack of support at work or caregiving role, constant criticism, unclear expectations.

5. Boredom, not practicing self-care or not having the ability to do so.

Burnout: a physical and emotional state of exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress.

Do these 5 tips to build resistance to and manage job stress:

1. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Optimal sleep for your circadian rhythms are when you sleep between 10pm and 2am. Tart cherry juice before bed helps too!

2. Take breaks. Breaks help us to recharge and refuel our mental and physical energy.

3. Spend time outdoors. Nature is healing on all levels either from being active or simply relaxing and it can also boost your overall mood.

4. Practice Mindfulness. Deep breathing, yoga and coloring are great grounding exercises to help practice being present.

5. Do small things you enjoy during non-work hours to help release emotions.

According to the CDC, following these 5 holistic tips can help with elevating burnout. If you're struggling with burnout or simply want to improve your overall wellbeing, know that you don't have to do it alone. As a health educator, I'm here to help. I offer workplace wellness programs that can be provided both in person and virtually, which focus on promoting inner child healing through techniques such as laughter meditation, gentle movement, and more.

Check in with yourself about how you are feeling, this is critical to help recognize how stress shows up in your life and what stress looks like for you. Take all the rest you need. Rest is a necessity. Remember, taking care of your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health is essential for overall wellbeing. If you're struggling or not feeling like yourself lately, know that it's okay to take a break and prioritize rest. Don't hesitate to reach out to me or other healthcare professionals for support.