If I say to you: “Why don’t you…”, your age and where you were brought up will probably dictate your answer. Those of you in my (undefined!!) age bracket who lived in the UK as kids will likely reply immediately…. …just switch off your television set and go out and do something less boring instead!”…
Negativity and numbing – Burnout’s nasty twins
Negativity: nasty, destructive, insidious and a side effect of feeling burned out. The exhaustion, weariness of soul, irritability, emotional emptiness, and physical symptoms that can accompany burnout have a detrimental effect on our motivation levels and self control. Stress negatively affects our decision making, our confidence can take a battering, and the effort required to pick ourselves up…
Plan in relaxation or planning to relax?
Do you sometimes hear yourself rationalising with your own self that you really are planning to relax as soon as this next event has passed or this project is finished, or such–and-such crisis is over? It is ludicrous, you argue with yourself, to plan in relaxation now, of course you are simply too busy and…
Breaking up is so very hard to do….
Breaking up is so very hard to do. Or so goes the song. Not a very up-beat, life-affirming place to start, especially when we are on the bleak subject of burnout anyway. And since the words of The Walker Brothers song are cheesier than the cheesy vapours emanating from Ian Mellis’ cheese shop, let’s keep the…
What are the physical symptoms of burnout? Or, what is your body telling you?
What is your body telling you? Might seem like a slightly cheesy question, but one that warrants further exploration. A better question might be, what are the physical symptoms of burnout? You remember you see that I spent more than two decades working as a physiotherapist (physical therapist to those readers across the pond) and I…
Who do you lean on?
Who do you lean on in times of stress or crisis? When you are burnt out? Or even, for that matter, in normal day-to-day life? Since jumping on the burnout bandwagon a couple of weeks back, I have done a bit of digging into what to do about it – all well and good to know…
Strength to body and soul
Apparently, American President Theodore Roosevelt (1858- 1919) experienced neurasthenia. And the fascinating thing here for me is the discovery of one of his solutions to combat the condition and regain strength to body and soul – he opened many national parks. The outdoors. Space. Fresh air, no technology, stunning scenery. The sense of being part…
Neurasthenia or nervous prostration anyone?
Neurasthenia. Recognise the term? No? Well, it was coined by George Beard, a 19th century neurologist, to describe what we would now call burnout – as we started to explore last week. So, nothing new then. Described thus – A state of constant fatigue, loss of motivation and energy and often insomnia and muscle aches associated…
The Burnout Bandwagon
Everywhere I turn just now it seems that burnout is the topic of discussion. Several articles have appeared on LinkedIn recently, aimed at coaches who work with Chief Executives, and at care givers. Responses to my own recent musings on the importance of good boundaries, and the need to let our souls catch up with…