Most people experience burnout at least a few times in their life and don’t even know it. The definition of burnout is a state of feeling emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Yes, this feeling actually was given a name due to how common it is in a modern day society. With work, school, homework, social lives, friends, family, and so much more, all of these things can bring stress to everyday life. Sometimes it feels like there is nothing to do or feel cornered here’s some ways to manage these burnt out feelings.
The first way to manage burnout is prevention, according to Psychiatry.org the first way to try and prevent or get out of the state of burn out is setting new and healthy boundaries. In work or school when put in an unfair place people should feel free to set boundaries. Boundaries aren’t just for friends or family but also work intake. Boundaries people may want to invest in setting are making sure work or school isn’t a person’s entire life, making time for themselves is important and if someone is in a position where they do not have the time they may need to look to a manager or counselor to change whatever it is that’s stopping them for having their own time. To put this into a real perspective American society dictates working until the age of 62 and the average age of death is 78 years old. So it’s important to understand limits and how to set boundaries early in life rather than later.
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Mr. Flynn an English teacher at Shadow Ridge states, “Running is my #1 way to manage burnout. Every day after school, I go for a run. Depending on the day, that could be anywhere from 2 miles to 6 or 7. When it’s cool out, I take my dogs Lucy and Sadie with me. They love to run! Camping with my wife and our dogs is another way I avoid getting burned out. We love to go camping either in the woods or at the beach. Both places help me to get away and just disconnect from everyone and everything. I also write stories as a way to avoid burnout. While reading provides me with a sense of escape, writing takes that to an entirely different level because in writing, I control what happens, and sometimes, it’s having that sense of control that helps me keep everything in balance.”
Another way to manage burnout is keeping track of when breaks are needed. If someone is over stressed constantly they’ll need a break to not go crazy.
Sophomore Lilliana Ramirez states, “I’m not a religious freak but I pray a lot and for a burnout I would take things step by step not everything at once.”
Her statement helps show a personal way of dealing with these kinds of stressors everyday life can bring. Students shouldn’t try and rush everything all at once, setting healthy and reasonable boundaries, and understanding when breaks are needed are the three biggest ways to lessen or prevent burnout.
