5 Ways to Deal With Burnout in the Workplace and Keep Your Sanity

As the world becomes more connected, our jobs become more connected, too. We’re constantly inundated with work emails, calls, and texts outside of traditional work hours. At work, we’re expected to be “always-on” and responsive.

With all of that connectivity comes the risk of feeling too much of everything. We see, hear, and sense too much. We think about too many things at once. And that constant stimulation can exhaust us -which is precisely why we may feel stuck, unmotivated, and even resentful.

But our exhaustion isn’t just a byproduct of being connected. It’s also a symptom of burnout. And burnout is a serious workplace issue, especially for those in the medical field.

So, what can you do to deal with burnout in the workplace and keep your sanity? We’ve got five ideas.

#1 Take a Connectivity Break

First, take a break from the constant connectivity. Turn off your work email notifications outside of work hours. Let your voicemail pick up calls after a certain time. And take some time for yourself each day to disconnect from work altogether.

This might sound difficult, but it’s actually a great way to unwind. When we take breaks from our connectivity, we can focus on ourselves and what we need to recharge in order to be more productive at work.

#2 Take Time for Self-Care

Second, make time for self-care. Too often, we feel too burned out at work to care for ourselves properly. But taking time for yourself each day can help you recharge and be more productive when you return to work.

This might mean meditating, going on a walk outside, or simply playing with your cat while you watch TV. Whatever self-care method works for you, make sure to schedule it into your day so that you can stick with it.

#3 Do Something You’ve Always Wanted to Try

We all have ideas and dreams we’ve yet to act on. If you’ve been feeling like you need a break from the everyday grind, take it. Dive into an activity you’ve been meaning to try, but haven’t yet.

It doesn’t have to be a serious pursuit. It could be as simple as taking a walk you haven’t yet explored or eating something you haven’t made before. These activities can help you refocus and remind you what’s important.

#4 Stay Connected With Your Community

Nothing replaces face-to-face interactions, but staying connected with your community can help you feel more balanced and calm. Of course, we’re all different, but for some people, being able to stay connected with a group or network of friends is a soothing balm.

#5 Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to your supervisor about your workload and see if there’s anything they can do to lighten the load. If you have a friend or family member who’s good at listening, confide in them about how you’re feeling.

And if you’re really struggling, consider talking to a therapist or other mental health professional about your feelings. You deserve to be happy and healthy at work -and that starts with taking care of yourself.

In the end, we all experience burnout from time to time. But by making some simple changes to our lives and relationships, we can deal with burnout in the workplace effectively and keep our sanity intact.

Healthcare Australia

Healthcare Australia services the healthcare industry with the highest quality staffing solutions, while also offering a wide variety of services aimed at supporting community health and wellbeing.

HCA connects healthcare professionals, organisations, and people to provide end-to-end healthcare solutions as needed. We fill the healthcare skills gap to ensure people in Australia always have the support they require. That’s why HCA is Australia’s #1 healthcare solutions provider.