Burnout
Life can get busy and sometimes you can’t help but put too many things on your plate. As humans we want to put 100% into every aspect of our life but sometimes by doing that we end up burning ourselves out. People don’t even realize what they are feeling in that moment isn’t just fleeting but something deeper called burnout. Burnout can be described as “going too strong for too long which can happen by rushing from one task to another, stressed and busy, without taking time for yourself to rest.”
Burnout symptoms include chronic fatigue, insomnia, forgetfulness, increased illness and loss of appetite. Here are some tips on how to avoid burnout
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
- Get enough sleep
- Include daily enjoyable “timeouts”, such as yoga, a hobby or meditation
- Evaluate and readjust personal goals regularly
How to Stay Alert
It is a difficult balance between wanting to get a lot done and not overdoing it. It takes time and obedience to recognize when your passion and drive turn into something harmful to your health. Some people tend to lean on caffeine as a source to keep their drive. Caffeine by itself is not harmful but over consuming can be harmful to your health.
Caffeine is a drug that stimulates your brain and increases activity, and can be found in drinks such as tea, coffee, energy drinks and soda. The short term effects include mental alertness and increased heart rate. For some people this can be beneficial when trying to complete a task but for others these effects can last up to 12 hours. This can put a lot of strain on your mental and physical health. Finding more natural ways to stay alert will help your body from experiencing all the highs and lows of consuming caffeine.
Here are a few natural ways to stay alert from Northwestern Medical:
- Jump-Start with a snack (preferably foods with low-glycemic index)
- Consume a balanced diet
- Exercise
- Try the Stimulating Breath Technique
- Stay Hydrated
- Take a Power Nap
- Connect With Nature
