Use Your Summer to Deal With Burnout

A person suffering from burnout has undergone a high level of stress for some time and so is mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. Stress is a part of life and is not necessarily a negative thing, the problem is when it gets too much and overwhelms a person. Sometimes, if you push yourself too hard or continue doing something that you do not like doing, this can happen.

But first of all, what are the early signs of burnout? The person usually feels extremely exhausted, feels run down, and has very low energy levels. He or she may show signs of anger if demands are made and may even criticize himself or herself for trying to keep up with those demands. The person may be negative and irritable and feel overwhelmed with everything, exploding at things that seem unimportant to everyone else. Headaches, a lot of stomach upsets, and either gaining or losing weight are common symptoms as are shortness of breath and a general feeling of hopelessness.

These are the signs that a person has run himself or herself down to a dangerous level. So what can such a person do?

The first thing is to learn to read the warning signs your body gives you. Listen to your body and do not be afraid to admit that you are under excessive stress and pressure. Do not try to do everything by yourself—share your worries with a close relative or friend. Sharing worries helps to lighten the load. Allah gives so much reward when we help and listen to others because it helps people become healthy and stable. If you think your line of work or study is causing you to feel like this, then perhaps you should try to find an alternative. There is nothing wrong with admitting you have made a wrong decision—do work that suits your interests and abilities.

Try to find the areas of your life that are giving you a lot of pressure and try to find ways to lessen that pressure. For example, a friend of mine found she was very agitated and pressured in the late afternoon and that if she was going to explode, she would to it then. So she started to change the time she did tasks throughout the day so that she would be relatively free in the late afternoon. She found herself more relaxed. A simple distribution of your daily chores can make a lot of difference if you know the times you feel bad.

Some people naturally pour out their troubles into certain person’s ears and this person can end up feeling overwhelmed and pressured. If you are such a person and people often come to you for advice, nurturing, and help, then you should learn how to (kindly) separate yourself when it feels like it is getting too much. It doesn’t mean that you are unkind, it just means that you are making a balance in life.

Sit down and make a list of things that are important to do and things that can wait. People who suffer from burnout often have the habit of taking on too much and cannot always prioritize well. If someone criticizes you for changing what you have been doing, don’t worry—stick to what you have planned, it’s for your own good.

Try to keep moderation in every aspect of your life. Everyone has only so much energy, so try to economize on your energy output so you can continue for longer instead of whirling through life only to wind up in a heap!

If you find yourself worrying and anxious, then turn to Allah and leave your worries with Him. Sort out the things you can change and those you cannot. Ask Allah to help you accept what you cannot change and ask Him to help you change the others in the best way. By trusting in Allah and steering a steady course, you will feel relief.

In some situations we have a choice: We can internalize the anxiety and fret and worry or we can laugh it off. Of course, some things in life need our serious attention, but other things can be “let go” of. If we learn to laugh a little, our stress level goes down. It is more likely to keep relationships healthy if we turn a positive side to situations that could have potentially been another footstep to burnout!

So remember, your body is a trust given to you by Allah. Ultimately, everything belongs to Allah—even our bodies—and what we take with us from this life are our good deeds. So, it is actually a part of our Islamic duty to take good care of our bodies and let them work for us in the best way. Don’t become a slave to your body! Keeping yourself fit and strong is important so that you can face the challenges of life with an alert mind, a steady heart, and a vibrancy. If you have got yourself into the stage of burnout, it means that you have made some wrong choices. Use your summer to reassess yourself, your life, and the direction you are following, so you will a more productive and happy person.

Latiefa Achmat is an Islamic counselor and social worker in Cape Town, South Africa. She can be contacted at youth_campaign@iolteam.com.