Burnout and Mental Health

Hello and welcome back to my blog! I’m truly sorry that it has been quite a while since I posted my last blog, but that was because I was busy with my full-time job and simultaneously studying for a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam and the GMAT (business school exam). This current blog post will be about burnout and mental health, and is an extremely relatable topic; burnout is extremely common and can definitely affect your mental health.

First of all, what is burnout? In my own words, burnout is the state of less productivity and stress due to fatigue and overworking, and leads to emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion and tiredness. Burnout can happen to anyone at any time, and is typically common among athletes, students, and employees.

What are some signs of burnout? According to Healthline, some signs of burnout include frequent illness, as burnout can worsen your immune system, isolation, exhaustion (both mentally and physically), irritability, and escape fantasies, when people who have burnout have dreams about literally leaving their job or studies.

If you have signs of burnout, you must address it as soon as possible. This is because burnout changes your mental state and leads to anxiety and depression. If untreated, burnout essentially leads to mental illness.

Burnout is definitely common when students overstudy or cram for exams, or when employees or workers are “overworked” by working long hours. And when burnout occurs, production or effectiveness is reduced dramatically.

Some strategies that can alleviate burnout or reduce it dramatically include: adequate amounts of sleep, sufficient exercise, a good diet, and effective breathing techniques. For further techniques on how to alleviate stress, caused by burnout, please visit my blog posts titled: “Staying Physically and Mentally Strong, and “Ways to Overcome a Tough Mental Health Day”.

An adequate amount of sleep should be 6-8 hours of sleep a night and can be supplemented by a 25-30 minute nap during the day if necessary. Good sleep reduces the likelihood of anxiety and depression; it also keeps one energized.

One should exercise at least 30 minutes five to six days a week in order to keep the mind and body fresh. As stated in previous blogs, exercise is a great tool to improve one’s mental health, and good physical health leads to good mental health.

Next, a good diet can also mitigate the effects of burnout because one with a good diet likely will be in good physical shape and healthy.

Breathing techniques are also an effective way to combat burnout. If you are feeling stressed or burnt out, stop what you are doing and immediately take at least 5 deep breaths. I often get burnt out from studying for the CPA and GMAT exams at night after a day of work. Taking deep breaths during the middle of studying really helps me to stay on top of things and mitigates the effects of burnout.

Thank you very much for reading my 12th blog. Burnout is an extremely common phenomenon and can lead to significant mental health issues. Therefore, it must be addressed and mitigated. Lastly, please also share my blog with friends and family, and subscribe at the bottom of the home page if interested!