Is Burnout Affecting your Sleep?

Have you ever felt the effects of burnout?

This is a fairly newer term, yet this is extremely common amongst many adults in the workforce. Burnout happens when excessive and prolonged stress affects you to the point where you are physically and mentally exhausted. This typically stems from stress relating to your job, whether you are in a corporate office environment or if you work shifts.

Burnout has become more common over the past two years, especially with the rise of people working from home, and this can have some pretty negative effects on your sleep.

How to know if you are experiencing burnout

While you may think burnout symptoms only happen during the daytime, this is not always the case. If you have burnout, then you may be feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, unable to focus, and physically and mentally exhausted during the daytime. All of these can have negative effects on your sleep, which is crucial to how well you function during the daytime. Many people with burnout experience insomnia and have trouble falling and staying asleep.

Additionally, burnout can lead to unexplained physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and/or stomach aches, all of which can affect your sleep and possibly lead to bigger health problems.

Feeling burned out? Here are a few tips to get back on track and improve your sleep

• Practice some healthy habits in the daytime: this includes maintaining a healthy diet and getting in some exercise on a daily basis
• Practice good sleep hygiene habits: make sure your bedroom is an environment that is suitable for sleeping, stick to a consistent bedtime routine and put your electronic devices away before bedtime.
• Take proper breaks throughout your work day: it is important to step away from your work space every few hours so you can recharge and be more productive
• Set some clear boundaries between your work and your home life. This is especially important if you work from home. Resist the urge to catch up on work or check emails when you are off the clock, especially at night
• Take advantage of your days off: Use this time to relax, practice some self-care or partake in an activity you enjoy so you are coming back to work well rested