The whole body hurts. The brain is like a battered dish sponge. Everything falls out of your hands, and you yourself do not understand why you are doing this work. You are sick? No, you just burn out. Stress and fatigue don’t just get in the way of your life, they can lead to serious health consequences.
Congratulations, From Burnout to Balance is exactly what you need. It will help anyone who feels tired and exhausted at work. Tells you what to do when things are already bad. There are no miracle instructions for awakening here – only what will help here and now. And funny illustrations will cheer you up.
“My advice may not completely eliminate the effects of burnout,” writes the author of the book, writer and copywriter Imogen Dall , “but you will instantly feel better. You have a survival guide in your hands.”
How a dream leads to burnout
“I worked in the advertising industry and at some point I decided to become a screenwriter,” Imogen shares her story. — It was a dream. I ate only chocolate, worked for days, right in my pajamas, and did not think about anything but success. And then there were chest pains, shortness of breath, I could hardly get out of bed.
Is it a heart attack? No, just old “friends” – stress, anxiety and depression, which entwined into a monstrous ball, leading me to burnout.
Why is this happening?
Insecure Workaholics
Perhaps you are a slightly insecure workaholic.
“Insecure workaholics are excellent and incredibly ambitious professionals, but they are driven by hidden dissatisfaction with their work,” explains Laura Empson , who coined the term. Companies willingly hire insecure workaholics because they are highly self- motivated and self-disciplined. They also work more than others because they want to be safe.
Despite all this, workaholics think that they linger in the office of their own free will and never blame the company or its leaders for this. The situation does not change even when insecure workaholics become leaders themselves: they unconsciously continue to instill an unhealthy atmosphere of overwork and control.
Did you recognize yourself? If so, it seems like it’s time to do something about it.
Ask Spock
Even if you’ve never watched Star Trek, it’s okay. Know only that Spock is a half-alien who is guided by pure logic and reason, leaving almost no room for emotions. Now imagine such a character next to you.
Let imagination serve a good cause instead of raising anxiety
Tell Spock what thoughts are spinning in your head and listen to his response. Perhaps he, with his characteristic straightforwardness, will give exactly that useful advice that you did not want to recognize. For example, I tell him, “Spock, I haven’t replied to this email for too long and now I feel embarrassed.” And he told me: “Yes, what’s the problem? Take it and answer.
Time for excitement
When thoughts are swirling around in your head, it is difficult to concentrate, not to mention productive work. Listen to what’s bothering you. Write down everything, even the little things like “I have a headache,” “I forgot to wish my friend a happy birthday,” or “It’s time to give away my clothes, but they’re still lying on the floor.”
And then choose one or two problems that you can solve today.
If you don’t have an obvious solution, such as writing down “I’m sad,” set aside a specific time when you allow yourself to worry. This is a technique of cognitive behavioral therapy, and it is that you choose a time and place to think about what worries you. Thus, anxiety will not torment you all day.
Gratitude again? Yes. Because it helps
“I want to confess that I am not very good at practicing mindfulness or meditation,” writes Imogen Dall . Gratitude is another matter entirely. You don’t have to pretend like everything is fine. The point is to emphasize and give more importance to the positive moments of life.”
Yes, you may have already heard about it. But admit it: how often do you pay attention to praise? Or do you only notice criticism? The simplest exercise, the effectiveness of which is confirmed by many studies, is the “gratitude diary”. All it takes is regularly writing down a few things you are grateful for.
It doesn’t have to be something substantial or work related. Just something nice that happened to you today. Something that will change the way you feel and your life.
First aid for emotional burnout
This book is for anyone who is overwhelmed with anxiety, anxiety, always uptight, busy with work and experiencing stress – mainly at work. It also has beautiful ironic illustrations that make it easier and more fun.