There used to be a time when we weren’t doing something every minute of every day. The race for success has turned us into non-stop working machines, so we tend to forget that our human nature prevents us from maintaining that tempo for a long time. As a consequence, more and more people every day face burnout syndrome.

Unlike the stress that we occasionally face from our daily routine like work and household chores, burnout syndrome leaves us feeling tired all the time and without any enthusiasm for the things we do. 

Here we will discuss burnout syndrome in detail, what you can do to recognize the signs on time, and how to deal with it.

What Is The Burnout Syndrome?

In order not to confuse everyday stress and exhaustion with burnout syndrome, it is important to point out their differences. A person who is under a lot of stress and feeling exhausted after a long week at work will look nervous, agitated, and tired. However, a person with burnout syndrome will mostly seem uninterested and deeply cynical. Although the feeling of exhaustion is mutual, with burnout syndrome it can feel more overwhelming than with the usual stress. 

There are three types of burnout syndrome:

• Individual burnout
• Interpersonal burnout
• Organizational burnout

The first step towards dealing with burnout is by recognizing what causes it. 

Signs That You Are Facing Burnout Syndrome

One of the first signs of burnout syndrome is a feeling of constant tiredness. In many aspects, this syndrome has the same signs as depression. What is more, it can actually quickly turn into depression if not being dealt with on time. So if the smallest tasks that are somehow related to your work cause a feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion, you should talk to someone about it. 

Another important sign that you could be facing burnout syndrome is the feeling of complete detachment from your work. This means that you can start avoiding going to work under the pretext that you are sick even on the days when you are not. You might also get the feeling of anger and cynicism even towards a normal workload. 

Don’t be afraid if some of these things sound familiar. It’s not unusual to get these feelings every once in a while. But having them constantly, for a longer period of time, is definitely a red flag. 

How To Deal With The Burnout Syndrome

Although it might seem like you can never return to the state you were once in, there are many things an individual can do to deal with burnout syndrome. 

Firstly you must have a better organization of your workday. By having structure, your free time and your working hours will not overlap.

Then, you should focus more on the progress that you are making rather than on the end goal. This will ultimately provide you with a greater sense of achievement. 

Lastly, you must learn to respect the “free” time. This means that you shouldn’t bother yourself with work tasks during the time that is reserved for rest and relaxation.