“Battery Needs Recharging” – How to recognize burnout and recharge your battery!

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” Buddha

The other day I heard one of my devices chirping “battery needs recharging”. It got me thinking that it sure would be great if WE had a warning system like that! It would make it easy to recognize that we are running on low batteries and in danger of burning out!

Then I realized that we DO have “battery needs recharging” warnings! The trouble is, we usually don’t pay attention to these early warning signs.

Burnout is a gradual process that occurs over an extended period of time. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it can creep up on you if you’re not paying attention to the warning signals. The signs and symptoms of burnout are subtle at first, but they get worse and worse as time goes on.

Think of the early symptoms of burnout as warning signs that something is wrong that needs to be addressed. If you pay attention to these early warning signs, you can prevent a major meltdown!

Check out these early signs that your battery needs recharging:

-Sense of failure and self-doubt

-Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated

-Sense of detachment, feeling disconnected from what is going on around you

-Loss of motivation

-Increasingly cynical and negative outlook

-Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment

-Withdrawing from responsibilities

-Isolating yourself from others

-Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done

-Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope

-Taking out your frustrations on others

– Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early

If you are experiencing any of the above warning signs, how can you recharge your battery? Although not quite as easy as plugging into a recharger, there are steps you can take!

 

 

 

–      Start the day with the right mindset.

Spend at least fifteen minutes getting into the right frame of mind. Prepare yourself to have a good day by setting some personal goals for yourself. Read something that inspires you. Meditate, write in your journal, connect with your body by doing some yoga, Pilates, whatever helps you get connected and feel grounded!

–      Commit to a healthier lifestyle.

Although this idea sounds like the same old advice, eating the nutrients our bodies and brain need to function well is vital. If we are not putting in the right fuel, how can we expect to feel our best?  The same holds true for getting enough exercise and exposure to the outdoors.

–      Set boundaries

Don’t overextend yourself. Learn how to say “no”. If you find this difficult, remind yourself that saying “no” allows you to say “yes” to the things that you truly want to do.

–      Take a break from technology

Set a time each day when you completely disconnect. Put away your laptop, turn off your phone, and stop checking email.

–      Develop a hobby that taps your creative side

Creativity is a powerful antidote to burnout. Try something new, start a fun project, or resume a favorite hobby. Choose activities that have nothing to do with work.

–      Learn to manage stress

When you’re battery is running low, you may feel helpless. Remember that you have a lot more control over stress than you may think. Train your mind to perceive things more positively. Learn stress management techniques that work for you.