Battle With Burn-Out
Letting yourself reach the point where you are burnt out, worn
down and used up is a threat to your dreams, goals and your
life's happiness. The physical manifestation of burnout, or an
overload of stress, is your body's natural response to the
pressures you are placed under and that place it under during
the course of your day. Worse yet when you place yourself in a
stressful situation in your mind through worry and fret, your
body reacts as if physically placed in that situation. Your
body's natural defenses go into action.
Perhaps you are stressed and anxious about an upcoming
interview, big presentation or sales meeting. But your body's
natural defenses are reacting as if a gang of thugs cornered you
in a dark alley. Your heart quickens, you become sweaty, and
your thoughts are broken and scattered. Too much stress can
actually wear you down, as your body fights to keep up this
level of defense. You can easily see how this will negatively
impact your effectiveness towards accomplishing your goals.
But at the root level the cause of the stress is more the issue
than the stress itself. This root cause is what really can
generate a sense of hopelessness, a reduction in productivity,
bear a heavy weight on relationships, shatter dreams, and in
some cases even result in chemical dependency.
However, you can learn to response to your stress and anxiety in
a manner that will avoid these horror stories and stop the
disaster before it destroys your road to success.
Signs that your stress is reaching the danger zone: Bored (not
just when there is nothing to do) Do not feel
appreciated/loved/cared for Overly Tense Aggravated/Frustrated
Short Fuse - quick to get angry Frequently/Constantly tired or
exhausted Hate getting up in the morning (often don't)
Frequently being late to work, meetings, etc. Skipping work
Frequently ill Frequently Forgetting things (tasks, items, date
etc.) Resist change Procrastinates Feeling hopeless (no light at
the end of the tunnel) Alcohol or drug consumption increasing
Having trouble with a number of these signs? Well then you could
be doing battle with burnout. Burnout is a slow burn and can
come upon you so leisurely that you do not even realize it.
Listen to your body (and your friends). Knowing is step one to
winning the burnout battle.
This topic does not go over well with some. Often it goes over
the least with the determined, go-getters of the world. They
say, "Bah, I'm just doing what I do best. Getting ahead, getting
things done. Sure I burn the mid-night oil but that's how I get
ahead." These highly motivated and un-wavering people are at the
highest level of risk. They become inundated with their high
expectations of themselves and their enthusiasm to achieve their
dreams.
If you are passionate about being a success. If you feel the
need to be in control all the time. And if you frequently over
commit yourself with tasks and responsibilities, then you too
are at risk of becoming a contender in the burnout battle.
Attitude and a positive viewpoint of your life will positively
influence your vulnerability. As I said earlier, it is your
attitude toward a demand or pressure rather than the actual
demand or pressure that causes the stress. Learn to manage your
stress. Now this sometimes means making the tough decisions.
Remembering to take care of yourself, both mentally and
physically. Accepting responsibility for your well being and
making positive life choices. Take the time to list the things
that are causing you undo stress (the root causes. List them all
- even the ones that you enjoy but still result in stress. Once
you complete the list, break it into two categories; conditions
you can change and conditions you cannot change.
Sit down and work out a plan to resolve the stressful conditions
that you can change. Then work the plan. Remember, coming up
with the plan alone won't do it. You have to work the plan and
remove the stress from your life and from you list.
As for the conditions that you are unable to change. Look at
better ways to react to them. The conditions themselves aren't
causing the stress; your attitude/reaction to the conditions is
causing the stress. Some of the material I have shared with you
in the past (last issue on Attitude for example) can prepare you
to better react to these conditions positively. You can't stop
these waves of stress, so learn to surf them.
Think Successfully & Take Action. Tracy
http://www.SuccessAtlas.com (C) Tracy Brinkmann 2000-2005 all
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