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At some point in our life, each of us has felt like we were experiencing burnout. When you work hard, have commitments to others, and have big goals it can sometimes be a challenge to keep everything in balance.

A simple explanation of burnout is that it occurs when our work and the pressures of life have become so intense that there’s a lack of motivation, or a “don’t care” attitude about life. It involves psychological, emotional, and sometimes physical withdrawal from a formerly enjoyable activity.

Keep a watchful eye out for signs of “burnout” both in your life and the lives of your family members. It can occur during times of intense study and long working hours. If burnout is the result of a new project at work, or the time you’re spending studying for an exam if you’re in school, it’s important to remind yourself and your family that it’s temporary and is only for a relatively short period of time. Sometimes burnout happens because of life challenges. If you find yourself overwhelmed it’s important to figure out what’s making you feel that way and take direct steps to change how you approach work, personal responsibilities, or the intensity you place on your everyday challenges. Regardless of the reason, burnout is a real danger to your ability to manage the pressures of everything you have on your plate.

Sometimes, it’s not easy to realize you’re experiencing burnout. Jessica Stillman, (contributor, Inc.com) identified some of the signs in her article, 5 Surprising Signs of Burnout. They include:

Signs of Burnout

• Inability to concentrate
• Guilt
• Frequent mood changes
• Social isolation
• Increased use of alcohol, food, and/or drugs
  

Are You Experiencing Burnout?

• Do your spouse, children, or friends complain that you need to spend more time with them? Do they feel that they’re last on the list for your time?
• Do you have many business associates, but few friends?
• Do you work even in nonworking situations?
• Do you work at your play? Is all your recreation as much work as being on the job because you play to win every point, improve every previous performance, and refuse to take losing lightly?
• Do you feel uncomfortable if you’re in a situation where you can’t be productive and grow nervous as you wait for things even so minor as a red light to change in traffic?
• Do you think of no goal-related fun as frivolous?
• Do you let the clock run your life?
• Do you take everything so seriously that you miss or resent humorous comments at home in a work situation?
  

Once you recognize the symptoms of burnout, take positive steps to counter its negative effects. Research the web for additional information and tools that will help you get through this difficult period. Evaluate situations objectively and then implement solutions. Perhaps this is the time for you to do more delegating both at home and work, even if only temporarily. Take some time to brainstorm solutions to all of the things weighing on your mind, and sometimes by just writing them down you’ll find that they aren’t as big as you’ve made them out to be..

Avoiding Burnout

Take some time out—take a break! Force yourself to make time for yourself and your family. Turn off the cellphone, don’t watch the news on TV, don’t answer your emails, and disconnect from your daily chores and obligations. Do something that’s totally different and that you find relaxing so you can give your mind and body a rest. You deserve it, and your family and friends deserve it. You should be determined to enjoy them every day—life is too short, and the unexpected happens. You want to be able to say you enjoyed all of your moments and not have regrets about not taking time or making time to relax and enjoy all of the wonderful things and people in your life.

Take your vacations regularly. Companies give paid vacation because they understand the need for people to have the time to rest and re-energize so they can continue to be productive. The same goes for your personal life. So, if you’re starting to feel yourself becoming overwhelmed this is a huge red flag that now is the time to take that time off and to step away. A vacation can just be a day! If you don’t have the money, or really can’t spare the time to take off for a week or more, you can just go away for a day… Go with your friends or family to your favorite fishing hole, or your favorite theme park—or go alone if that’s what you really need! You can make a single day off (or two) be as special as you choose. You can’t afford not to take time off and the relief you’ll feel will make you that much more ready to face whatever it is when you return.

A good antidote for burnout is to become involved with outside interests that you find relax-ing—exercise, sports, social meetings, club memberships, and so on. Get away from your everyday responsibilities and relax and enhance your creativity. Protect your free time! Everyone needs to take time to relax and have fun. Engage in hobbies or other pursuits that you enjoy. Don’t become a workaholic.

The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills textbook.