Did you wonder why the long silence?

I’m just coming out of burnout

Many people have asked me how to bounce back from burnout.  We have no energy to ‘bounce’. Coming out of burnout is more like a slow creep.
Like me, you probably recognise when you’re stress levels are high and like me, you may have tried to soldier on.  I hear myself telling others to take regular short breaks and learn to say ‘no’, but I was in a situation I couldn’t get out of.  Like you, I had to press on.
Burnout is also called ‘Compassion Fatigue. If we’re working in crisis situations, or even just caring for a family, leaving no time for ourselves, we’re in danger of ‘Compassion Fatigue’.  Our battery runs out, because we haven’t been able to care for ourselves.

Burnout creeps up on us so slowly, we don’t realise we’re heading for trouble until we’re already in it.

I found five key steps that helped me climb out of that slippery slope

  1. Let others know you are burnt out. Help others understand and respect your needs.
    Ask colleagues, family members or friends to take over your responsibilities.  Take time off work as sick leave for your mental health.  Learn to lie in bed all day without guilt. Respect your own needs.
  2. Find small moments of joy.  Do at least one small thing each day that brings you joy.
    It’s the best antidote to depression.  Listen to favourite (uplifting) music, sit in sunshine, walk in nature, watch a light tv show, borrow someone’s dog.  If you skip this step, depression will drag you down further.  You need determination, perseverance, patience and ‘grit’ to find moments of joy.
  3. If you need space, as I did, let people know, so that they don’t take offence or worry about you.  Explain you need to be left alone for a while.  As a safety measure, if you’re at risk of suicide, you could agree in advance how long they should leave you before checking in briefly.
  4. Be patient.  Don’t expect too much of yourself, or frustration will add to your pain. Recognise that in times of high stress, the first things that go out of the window are concentration, memory and ability to think clearly. Allow the normal process to unfold as you heal.
  5. Don’t try to make any important decisions.  This is not a time when you can think clearly.
    That doesn’t mean don’t think. It means do any thinking on paper, writing lists of pros and cons and giving yourself time to absorb all the facts without pressure. Talk to a trusted person to ensure you overlook nothing.  Delay the decision until your head is clear.

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