Burnout

Many of us battle with balancing our hectic daily schedules and home life. Between work-related issues, personal problems and struggling to find the time to catch up with yourself, it becomes increasingly easy to fall into a trap of feeling burnt-out, exhausted and stressed. In fact it is so common that in 2012, around 428,000 people suffered from work-related stress. Chronic stress is not only bad for your emotional state, but also for your physical health and well-being in general. Symptoms can include a lack of focus, irritability, migraines, and a cycle of poor nutrition and sleepless nights.

by Maureen Cromey

An Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Expert

“Aaah that’s it I can't go on.  I’m angry, tired and cannot sleep. My sides ache, I fantasise about running away, leaving it all behind.  Hate meeting new people and the only way I can relax is with at least half a bottle of wine.  I need plenty of coffee to wake up and don’t feel hungry at meal times but I do love a bag of crisps down the pub.  And a kebab on the way home. 

by Matthew Powell

A Body Aware Specialist

The link between stress and burnout is a linear one - stress can exist without burnout but burnout cannot exist without stress. Stress therefore, is the precursor, the forerunner if you will.

When we are stressed our body is, in effect, on high alert and our senses over-engaged. It results in us becoming tunnel visioned and our ability to deal with multiple tasks is lost. This is a manageable, almost a symptomatic byproduct of our day and age, but if there is never any break to this stress, if it is prolonged and incessant, it will lead to burnout.