HEALTH FILE

BURNOUT IS YOUR BODY TELLING YOU TO GO SLOW

Left unchecked, burnout can lead to serious health issues like heart problems, digestion and mood disorders. Image credit: HARBAKSH SINGH on Unsplash.

From NEWS CANADA

The mental, physical and emotional exhaustion that are hallmarks of burnout can start to creep up on you. Though often associated with work, burnout can happen in other situations too – the common factor is ongoing severe stress.

We all want to avoid burnout if we can, but it’s a common condition. In fact, according to a survey, feelings of burnout were the main source of stress related to a 12 per cent drop in reported rates of excellent or good mental health compared to the survey’s 2019 results.

Moreover, Canadians who said they had poor mental health were also more likely to take time off from work due to disability than those who reported good mental health.

“It’s no doubt been a challenging and unpredictable time for many working Canadians,” says Jean Salvadore at RBC Insurance, which commissioned the survey.

“We’re seeing this manifest with a significant impact on their mental health. While we may not be able to control our current circumstances, there are measures we can all take to cope with challenges and remain prepared for uncertainty.”

Left unchecked, burnout can also lead to other serious health issues like heart problems, digestion and mood disorders, so it’s important to be on the lookout.

Signs to watch out for

Sleeping too much or too little.

Lack of motivation and feeling disengaged.

Cognitive problems like difficulty focusing.

Feeling isolated.

Feeling numb or a sense of dread.

Physical and/or mental exhaustion.

Tension headaches and stomach issues.

Cynicism, anger or irritability.

What you can do

Do something big or small that you enjoy.

Reaffirm work-life boundaries.

Practise self-care strategies.

Get active and eat well.

Take time off and really relax – even if it seems impossible.

Develop a support network of trusted family, friends or a therapist.

Tips to deal with never-ending stress

1. Remember your healthy habits. Along with a balanced diet and getting enough sleep, stimulating separation for work is critical for your mental health and overall well-being. Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Take frequent mini-breaks to exercise or meditate and foster social connection with others.

2. Review and revise your spending. With inflation on the rise, most of us would benefit from revisiting financial priorities. Reviewing your wants and needs and where you can cut back can help keep financial stress at bay.

For example, you can unsubscribe from sales emails to help prevent impulse purchases, and cut back on services you don’t really need or use.

Knowing you’re getting your finances in check can lift a major weight off your mind.

3. Another important just-in-case action is to speak with an expert about disability insurance, which can replace your income if you can’t work due to mental health issues from burnout.

More at rbcinsurance.com/disability.