Are you running on fumes?
I believe that self-care needs a rebrand. Instead of being the domain of rose petal-infused baths or yoga on a cliff top it needs to be seen as the essential tool to prevent one of the most critical - and expensive- issues facing contemporary workplaces.
Here’s a question for you- how can you possibly be your best self when you’re running on fumes? The impact of failing to prioritise your self-care is significant. On the somewhat milder end of the scale you run the risk of not stepping into your peak or meeting your potential. At the other end of the scale you expose yourself to the debilitating effects of burnout which could damage your career and your relationships, irreparably in some circumstances.
Burnout is one of those terms that’s tossed around with no real sense of meaning. It deserves a whole lot more reverence, particularly when you consider how it manifests.
Physiological signs of burnout include:
• Frequent headaches and migraines
• Easily catching common ailments such as head colds, and then not being able to easily shake them
• Stomach and digestion issues
• Exhaustion and feeling completely zapped of energy
• Teeth grinding at night
• Poor sleep quality and insomnia
• High blood pressure
• Loss of appetite
Psychological and emotional symptoms include:
• A short fuse
• Waning optimism
• Unbridled cynicism
• Self-doubt
• Self-criticism
• Emotional volatility and lability
• Procrastination
• Anxiety
In the workplace this can result in high levels of absenteeism and sick leave- both the person experiencing burnout and the people within their team who are impacted by their behaviour. People can attempt to address their burnout via drugs and alcohol which have their own set of complications.
There is some research around the people in which burnout is more prevalent- just imagine your typical type A, busy, get it done type person and let’s call it a day! They work long hours, they neglect their basic needs (food, water, rest and movement) and they perceive their roles (rightly or wrongly) to be high pressure and high stake. In their eyes, they simply don’t have time to go to the loo, let alone carve out the time in their already overflowing schedules for some ‘me-time’. I’m not being flippant here- I found some research that indicated these people can literally go all day without going to the toilet! My question to these people and to the people I work with as a leadership and life coach is how can you not afford the time to tend to your own needs? Do you really have space in your schedule for burnout?
Obviously, the first step in preventing burnout is to put into place the steps for success. Basically, we want a scaffold or a safety net around your self-care so the risk of running on fumes is minimised. Grab old Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and ensure each and every level of the pyramid is consistently being addressed and attended to, from the physical (eat, move, drink, rest) right down- or is it up- to self-actualisation.
Burnout is debilitating and has long term detrimental effects- let’s not go there. My programs and coaching are designed to support people to put in place the structures to live life at their best and to reach their potential- please reach out if you’d like to explore working together.
