Managing Burnout & Starting Your New Year on the Right Foot
As 2021 came to an end, how were you feeling? If you felt exhausted, didn’t have the energy to take on any new projects, actually dreaded the holidays, or generally felt your mood was very, you might have been dealing with end of the year burnout. This is a common occurrence, especially for people who work in industries where the end of the year means an increase in work deadlines or who plan numerous activities around the holidays. In this blog, you can learn a bit more about end of the year burnout, and how you can manage the effects in order to start your new year off on the right foot.
What Is End of the Year Burnout?
End of the year burnout, as the name suggests, is the feeling of being overly tired by the added stresses and long lists of things to do at the end of the year. This can happen to anyone. We all have a lot going on to wrap up the year, but it is most common among people who work in high stress careers where end of the year deadlines can be especially dreadful. People can experience a wide range of symptoms associated with burnout, including excessive tiredness (physical, mental, and emotional), overwhelming stress, mood swings, increased irritability, and difficulty focusing.
How Can I Overcome Burnout & Start the New Year Off Right?
It’s easy to feel burned out toward the end of the year, and for many, the new year new you messaging only makes that worse. You don’t have to turn over a new leaf every year, but if you want to start the year off feeling a little more like yourself, consider the following tips to overcome the effects of burn:
Give yourself a break – if at all possible, take some time off, especially if work is a big source of your burnout. It’s often easier to take time off after the first of the year when the holidays have passed, so it may be a good idea to plan this into your annual calendar. If you can’t take time off work, try to give yourself plenty of rest and relaxation outside of work. Don’t plan a lot of extra outings or go to a lot of events for a few weeks.
Make resolutions or set intentions (check back later this month for a blog about resolutions and intentions for the new year) – having something to work toward can help you stay busy and focus on the future to move forward into the new year.
Set boundaries – remember that you can’t do everything for everyone or be everything to everyone. Say that again. It’s important to remember that we can only do so much, and while it’s not always easy to set boundaries and say no, it’s important to ensure you have adequate time and energy to devote to the things you really want to do.
Plan ahead for next year – if you notice you feel burned out at the end of the year, take steps to alleviate unnecessary stresses at the end of the year. Ask for help around the house, limit family gatherings, and incorporate more time for rest into your daily routine.
Consider Adding Therapy to Your New Year’s Plans
If you want someone to talk to about everything that’s going on or you just need someone in your corner as you work toward making positive changes, I hope you’ll consider scheduling therapy sessions with me. I’m Ashley Pichardo, a licensed mental health counselor, and I’m here to help you work through burnout and make progress toward achieving any goals in the new year. If you want to learn more or schedule a session, don’t hesitate to reach out.
