Whether you work in a fast food shop or as an investment banker, stress is part of normal working life. But how much stress is too much? London Life Coach Hans Schumann shares tips for spotting the early warning signs of a burnout. He also tells what happened to him when he ignored those warning signs in his previous career in financial services.
We all experience stress from time to time and that’s perfectly normal. A certain amount of stress is part of life and can even be stimulating. Stress is very subjective. What may be busy and lively for one person, may be overwhelming for another. Even if there is a lot of stress in your life, you may regard it as reasonable and part of your job specification. Maybe you even take pride in working hard or enjoy the thrill of high pressure. If that’s you, watch out for the early warning signs of a burnout!
What is burnout?
Burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. It’s when you cease to function as a result of excessive stress over a prolonged period of time. Early warning signs include irritability, frustration or low energy. If we don’t watch these early symptoms, they may become stronger: maybe you fall ill often or experience anxiety or brain fog. Watch out for these warning signs because if you don’t, your symptoms may become stronger and seriously harm your mental and physical wellbeing.
I know all about this because I did ignore those warning signs when I was working in financial services. I burned out badly, was hospitalised with an auto-immune disease and housebound for 14 months!
Don’t let this happen to you. Nobody wins when you burn out.
In the video below I talk in more detail about burnout and how to prevent it.
WARNING!
Multiple innocent oranges were harmed in the production of this video. I used them to demonstrate how excessive stress over a prolonged period of time can squeeze out all our life juices and eventually lead to serious burnout.
A burnout can happen to anybody.
Even if you are lucky to enjoy high resilience, we all have a break point. For some it is higher than for others. If the pressure keeps increasing, each of us will experience a point at which we break. It’s just a question of the amount of pressure. Don’t let it get to this.
Looking after yourself first can be the best thing you do for the people you want to support. Nobody wins if you burn out. It’s like they say on airplanes: Put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Click here to watch another video that illustrates the importance of prioritising your own basic needs.
Concerned about YOUR stress levels?
If you would like to discuss how you can increase your resilience and improve your work-life balance, let’s talk. Click here to book a FREE Discovery Call with me or one of my associates to discuss your specific situation and how stress coaching can help you stay happy, healthy and sane.
