Let’s Talk about it: Mid-Year Check-in & Burnout
How is it June already? Some years, it feels like winter’s early nights will never end, while other times, it seems like I’ve glanced away from the barren trees outside the office windows for just a moment, and suddenly, half the year has flown by.
As a recent graduate this period of my life feels like one long episode of the Sunday Scaries. Many around me have transitioned from internships to full-time, entry-level positions, and VRE is a commuter rail taking most of its riders to and from their full-time jobs.
With Mental Health Awareness Month just ending and the year hitting its halfway mark, it’s a good time for a check-in to ensure we all make it to January with our sanity intact. It seems so far away, yet I’m scared to glace away from the window...
Let’s talk about burnout: how can we spot the signs, and what can we do to navigate through it?
Once you’ve hit the wall with burn out there is no long vacation or cut work hours as a quick fix. Stress-related issues have a profound impact on all aspects of our lives and can manifest into our lives in very real ways. The mayo clinic lists these 9 signs of burnout:
1. Anxiety
2. Irritability
3. Lack of focus
4. Fatigue
5. Upset stomach
6. Headaches and muscle aches
7. Chance in diet and eating habits
8. Angry outbursts
9. Social withdrawal and isolation
As humans, we are meant to function with rest and downtime. This is difficult to practice in a hustle culture. Here are five preemptive self-care actions recommended by *Forbes*:
1. Mindfulness'
2. Bare minimum Mondays
3. Taking micro-steps & microbreaks.
4. Set Boundaries
5. Seek support
Burnout isn't exclusive to CEOs and managerial positions—though they might be more susceptible due to heavy workloads and tight deadlines. It can affect anyone: professionals, students, and healthcare workers alike. Let June serve as a reminder to slow down and feel the sun on our skin.
Works cited
Garton, Eric. “Beating Burnout.” *Harvard Business Review*, 30 Nov. 2016, https://hbr.org/2016/11/beating-burnout.
Robinson, Bryan. “Burnout: Take These 8 Steps Before You Hit the Wall in 2024.” *Forbes*, 6 Jan. 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2024/01/06/burnout-take-these-8-steps-before-you-hit-the-wall-in-2024/?sh=332cdca450d7.
Caprino, Kathy. “What Does Burnout Feel Like?” *Forbes*, 23 Mar. 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2024/03/23/what-does-burnout-feel-like/?sh=5e7df4f2d70e.