{"id":4432,"date":"2018-10-17T17:22:35","date_gmt":"2018-10-17T05:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niesh.co.nz\/?p=4432"},"modified":"2020-04-06T18:30:50","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T06:30:50","slug":"how-to-deal-with-burnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niesh.co.nz\/blog\/health-lifestyle\/how-to-deal-with-burnout\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal with Burnout"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cIS THIS ALL WORTH IT; FEELING LIKE A ZOMBIE FROM THE WALKING DEAD?\u201d WHILE CHUGGING BACK ANOTHER CAN OF V.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s that time of the semester again. General library gets pretty packed. Finding a computer to use on any level in Kate Edgar is near impossible. Money seems to mysteriously vanish from your bank account, replaced by much needed coffee and energy drinks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You wake up and ask yourself <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs this all worth it; feeling like a zombie from The Walking Dead?\u201d while chugging back another can of V.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Hey, maybe you\u2019re like me, struggling to get to the finish line<\/strong>. I remember wondering why it got more difficult every semester. Was it foreshadowing?  Was I just less motivated? Unlike me (I hope!), you managed to pull through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a little backstory: I broke down. Several times. In fact, I lashed out on the people closest to me and just couldn\u2019t seem to get it together. I kept thinking that I was being weak for not being able to pull through like the rest of my cohort. Eventually, loved ones suggested I go to counselling. I did -best decision ever. Through counselling, I realised that I had been suffering a burnout and had been denying it for a while.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Burnout? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, according to Wiki (yea I know, but let\u2019s be real, everyone uses it as a starting point<\/em>), burnout can be defined as <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201coccupational burnout resulting from long-term, unresolvable, job stress.<\/strong>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms include<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  • Exhaustion<\/li>
  • Lack of motivation<\/li>
  • Frustration, cynicism, other negative emotions.<\/li>
  • Cognitive problems (inability to pay attention, maintain focus \u2013 may result in \u201ctunnel vision\u201d)<\/li>
  • Not taking care of self \u2013 (I know \u201cWe\u2019re uni student, we don\u2019t usually take care of ourselves\u201d, well this is like a step further, e.g.  forgetting to eat, not sleeping, self-medication with pills, alcohol, too much coffee)<\/li>
  • Not being able to switch off- thinking about uni even when in your down time.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    TL:DR \u2013 Being in a zombie state physically, mentally and emotionally. In the long run, you will eventually become a zombie.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why does it occur?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s your body\u2019s way of telling you that you currently do not have enough resources to meet all your demands.<\/em> Essentially your body\u2019s saying :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “Stop this torture please”<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Imagine a rubber band that\u2019s been stretched to its limits, now imagine trying to stretch it even more. It breaks or snaps back, hurting you in the process. That rubber band ‘IS a burned out individual’<\/em>. When we keep pushing, we either break down, and\/or end up hurting everyone around us in the process. Eventually, the rubber band permanently loses its elasticity and form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In the long run, burn out can lead to a whole range of issues, such as heart diseases, digestive issues, depression, depreciating performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Deal with Burnout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s an amazing video by Thomas Frank to help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n