Burnout—it’s a word we hear often these days. But would you recognize the symptoms in yourself or a loved one?

While it’s not a medical condition, burnout can have major effects on your health. Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team shares some tips for how to stay balanced and avoid burnout.

What Does Burnout Feel Like?

That’s a good question! Burnout may look and feel slightly different in each person, but there are some overlapping characteristics.

Feeling burned out is the result of too much stress. Burnout is defined as “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” It can cause many symptoms, both in the short-term and over time.

Burnout Symptoms

• Lack of enthusiasm for normal activities
• Diminished appetite
• Change in sleep habits
• More frequent illness
• Excessive fatigue
• Headache or GI issues
• Use of alcohol, drugs or excess food to cope
• Cynical or critical outlook

How Can I Avoid Feeling Burned Out?

We mentioned above that burnout is the result of too much stress. So, your best defense against burnout is to find healthy ways to manage your stress.

Healthy lifestyle habits are a good place to begin. While a small amount of stress is normal and to be expected, chronic stress can cause health issues, so managing stress is important.

Steps to Avoid Burnout

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days.
• Prioritize getting enough quality sleep.
• Talk with your manager about issues in the workplace, including work/life balance.
• Create boundaries to keep work “at work,” even if you’re working from home.
• Eat a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables.
• Take up a hobby or other enjoyable activity.

In need of medical attention? Schedule an AFC TeleCare appointment with AFC Urgent Care Greenwood or stop by today to get the care you need.