The word ‘Burnout’ has been a social-media favourite amidst a global crisis. People suddenly have to turn their living rooms into office cubicles and kitchens into home schools, and life has never looked weird-er. With so much change comes stress, and when we are over-stressed, we’re giving way to burning out altogether. Simply put, Burnout means losing the will to do anything at all. From daily chores to office files, everything looks like the enemy, and all we want to do is break away from the daily dread. 

We have all experienced moments of stress in our lives; if we have to deal with it for an extended period– it turns into burn out. It builds up over a long time and can make you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. You might be going through the motions, start feeling disconnected, or lose motivation to do things altogether. Some people may even describe it as not behaving and feeling like themselves. 

Burnout can affect many parts of our life. While it’s okay to have our down days, and sometimes a little focus and pressure can be motivating, it’s not okay to feel too much and not stabilize energy levels. 

But if you’re confused about whether you’re stressed for the day or are burnt out altogether, here are some differences and signs to look for:

– Stress is characterized by over-engagement in the thought or action. Burn out, on the other hand, is characterized by disengagement. 

– When feeling stressed, emotions tend to be overreactive, and it gets hard to think clearly. In burn out, your feelings are worn down. 

– Stress causes urgency and hyperactivity. Burn out causes helplessness and hopelessness. 

– Stress leads to anxiety disorders. Burn out leads to detachment and depression. 

– With stress, you lose your energy. With burn out, you lose hope and motivation. 

The ultimate takeaway here is to learn how to manage your stress effectively, or in the long run, you will have to deal with more serious consequences. 

Here are a few tips that we believe will help with stress management: 

– Cut down on the caffeine you take regularly (also alcohol & cigarettes) 

– Get more sleep during the nights: helps keep a calm and clear mind during the day. 

– Practice relaxation techniques when you can start to feel overwhelmed by work or other stressful situations: mediation and breathing exercises.

– DO NOT FORGET to take breaks. 

– Try keeping a mood diary or journaling to identify your triggers. 

– Set boundaries: communicate with whoever is causing stress or can help with a load of stress. 

– Find different activities that you are enthusiastic about, and you will start to feel motivated again.