Steps to avoiding burn out

After the holidays, or weekend break, we go back to work, the kids start school and everyone is wondering how to bring back those feelings of stress-free happiness and avoid burnout in the office and at home. There are some steps worth implementing to save your body and mind.

Read on;

1. Identify your stressors:
Stressors can be internal feelings, external behaviors or external influences. They can come in many forms, such as changes in your relationships, chemical influences such as alcohol or nicotine, noise pollution or physical deprivations including not enough sleep. Pinpoint the thing or things in your life that start to lead you down the road to no return and increase physical ailments such as headaches or sleeplessness.

2. Take breaks:
Now that you know what you’re dealing with, it is easier to take small quick actions to break the stress and tension cycle. Walk away from an angry co-worker or a crying baby by taking a walk around the block. If stepping outside isn’t available to you, go into another room to grab a glass of water or hightail it into the bathroom and count to 100.

Read also: Meditate yourself to happinessn

3. Change your thinking:
Deciding to be realistic and turn your negative thoughts into positive ones will take some time, but the power of positive thinking has proven benefits. Start simply by checking in with yourself throughout the day and spinning your negative thoughts into positive ones. Laugh at yourself. It’s not the end of the world.

4. Do something physical:
Feeling stressed? Then it is time to go physical. Make sure you exercise, meditate, get more sleep, or dance around your apartment. While it makes sense that things like exercise are good for your body, Harvard Medical School links the neurochemical effects of physical activity to reduced levels of stress hormones. You can also use your mind to relax your body. The endorphins released by physical or positive mental activity generate feelings of relaxation and optimism, just what you need to counteract the stressors bringing you down.

5. Balance your down time:
Giving yourself time to recover from stressful situations is key. Find ways to counteract your daily activities that will recharge your batteries. If you have a sales job and you talk to people all day, then turn your phone off at home. If you’re stuck in a boring job that doesn’t mentally challenge you, find goal-oriented tasks to do at home or pick up a crossword puzzle. If you constantly travel for work, insist on a few days in between flights to relax at home.

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