“30 hours of work and still going strooong.” This was the last tweet by a 24-year-old Mita Duran, Jakarta-based copywriter that died in December 2013 after days of not getting enough sleep due to high work expectations. Thanks to Mita and her tragic death that could have probably been avoided, we are now aware of the term burnout and, more importantly, talk about this very dangerous condition that after many general practices worldwide, now even the World Health Organization officially recognized as a medical condition in their 2019 handbook. But, what does modern patient care consider burnout?
How do we define it?
According to some of the best doctors in Amsterdam and their colleagues, burnout is a syndrome connected to chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been dealt with either by the employer or the employee. It is strictly referred to in the occupational context, and shouldn’t be mistaken with any other. If you think you might suffer from burnout and consider scheduling a doctor consultation, here are the three main components you should be aware of – feelings of energy deficiency and tiredness, high emotional distance from a job or cynicism and negativity towards it, as well as reduced professional efficiency.
Burnout can be dealt with
With expectations in the workplace higher than ever, competition that seems to be making enormous strides towards your position and the stress of trying to navigate both our private and professional life, burnout often comes as a consequence many don’t know how to deal with. However, modern family practices are now offering a number of solutions – from self-care and mindfulness techniques to therapy. But, before you make an online medical consultation and ask for actual techniques, first try identifying the sources of your stress and start eliminating or at least reducing them.
Modern patient care offers solutions
Sometimes, due to high expectations, we’re the main causes of our stress and this is the same no matter where or what we do, which is why healthcare professionals in Amsterdam and all over the world advice we need to make strategies to protect our time, make intentional, productive procrastination, as well as introduce different habits and rituals into our lives. But once you start introducing these small but important steps into your daily life, there are additional physical exercises that have been proven to help us regain control over our feelings and our “old, happier self”. Before receiving more detailed instructions from a good family doctor, try taking on breathing techniques, short frequent breaks from work – even a comfortable chair might do the trick!
Your number one priority should be you
Remember – most of the stress we imposed on ourselves, due to high expectations, large competition and speed in which we are expected to deliver. Our bosses, colleagues and business environment are those that contributed to this in large amounts, but we must not forget that we are the ones who set the rules. However, this is usually easier said than done, and once we begin to recognize it we are usually in a deep into our burnout phase and on a mission trying to find the nearest general practice and specialist. If this text finds you in the middle of a workload of tasks in your overscheduled workday, take this time to take a break, rewind and remind yourself that the only way we can become the most productive selves is when we prioritize our health and wellbeing.