With daunting work tasks, never-finished housework, and raging political firestorms, its easy to feel depleted.
But when does that frazzle turn from temporarystressinto chronic stress and burnout?
That cracking sound you hear is yourself-careabilities splintering.
Kayla Snell / Stocksy
Funny movies seem more annoying than amusing.
Even thesneezing baby pandavideo has you rolling your eyes.
Welcome to grim burnout land.
When youre under pressure, your sense of playfulness and spontaneity fade, she says.
Nothing feels light and fun anymore, just kind of a dreary slog.
Stressincreases cortisol, the hormone responsible for your fight-or-flight response.
You might feel achy, like youre fighting the flu constantly, or have tight shoulders and neck muscles.
Maybe you used to be a multitasking pro, and now single tasks feel demanding.
Burnout causes a significant drop in mental resources, says Dr. Tausig-Edwards.
The mind becomes distressed, she notes.
Theres a sense of pressure that causes it to withhold its energy to protect itself.
That results in feeling distracted, inefficient, and easily frustrated.
You cant seem to devote all your mental energy to anything.
It might even feel that way with friends.
That results in a drop in empathy and increased feelings of detachment, she says.
If youve gone through this list and realized it sounds all too familiar, what are the next steps?
For one thing,start saying no, advises Dr. Bernstein.
Recognize whats causing chronic stress and cut down where you might.
Also, keep in mind that what works for someone else might not be best for you.
Instead, recognize what actually makes you feel less stressed and more resilient.
Burnout can happen for an hour or for months, she adds.
When you begin seeing the signs, switch over more often to stuff you enjoy doing.
Then keep doing it.
Most people have a sense of what nourishes them, Dr. Bernstein says.
When youre feeling depleted, focus on getting replenished, in whatever way feels healthy for you.
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