Work Prompt #17: Have you ever experienced burnout?

@ASilentObserver

I've been feeling like I'm experiencing burnout over the past few weeks. I find it hard to muster up motivation for work and mostly go because I have to. The worsening weather is definitely affecting my mood.

I juggle two main part-time jobs, totaling five working days a week. Plus other side hustles where I am a real estate agent, although it hasn't been financially rewarding, and the other involves freelance work, and all of which doesn’t pay well. I'm struggling financially and wish I could find a full-time job that matches my energy levels, as I often feel fatigued without understanding why.

Recently, I attempted to resign from one of my part-time positions due to personal reasons. However, they pressured me for more details, which made me uncomfortable. Eventually, I disclosed that it was related to my mental health. Today has been particularly tough; I've been overwhelmed and avoided calls due to my anxiety. I just needed some time to myself and haven't been delaying response to messages.

They even contacted my father to urge me to get in touch with them (they have my father’s emergency contact for this purpose), despite my initial explanation. I feel they're overstepping boundaries, both as an employer and as individuals.

Right now, all I want is a long break, but I have other responsibilities to manage. I'm considering going back home, which is only four hours away, for a week to recharge. Alternatively, I might stay here and focus on a self-care routine to improve my mental well-being.

I think the reason I came to 7cups in the first place was because I was experiencing burn out at work.  I have done much research and reading and I feel like I am a poster boy for it.  If you ask me how I'm handling it, I'm not.  I'm just floating miserably day to day until I can retire. I absolutely hate waking up in the morning knowing I have to go to my place of employment.....no way to live, I know..... I was brought up in an environment where you don't complain or show emotion, you "suck it up and drive on".....after being in this career since 1997, I believe "*** it up and driving on" has finally ruined me.  I know I definitely need the change, yet I'm in too far to give it all up now.  I won't compare my job to any other job because each one has its own set of stressors.  One reason I hold on is because the grass isn't always greener....better to learn to deal with the stress you know than the stress you don't is my train of thought....yet I'm not doing that so well.....So I will hold on and do the best I can for another 2 years......I used to like my job, stress and all...I knew what I was getting into when I signed up.....but....somewhere along the way, I'd say in the last 4 or 5 years, something changed.....maybe something in the job itself, maybe me, as I grew older, my thoughts and views on what I do changed, I don't know....I can't quite put my finger on it what happened and when, but I do know something changed that caused me to not like my job and the stress that comes along with it......and I firmly believe that change is what lead to my burnout....

With that said, I have this advice for anyone who is dealing with burnout.....I used to come here to 7cups a lot....I was once very active in the forums and it helped.  I went into a downward spiral at work that consisted of burnout and depression.....I'm still at an all time low for me.....I stopped coming here because of it.....after months away, I opened the app yesterday just for the heck of it....I dropped into a forum and a thread I was regular in....welcomed back with open arms.....I learned that I should not have swayed away from those that help and support me through this time..... Use the resources and tools you have available to so you don't end up absolutely hating waking up in the morning because you know you have to go to work....

@ASilentObserver I have experienced burnout, especially with my studies. I was a train wreck when I was burnt out, haha. My family were caught off-guard and didn't really know how to handle me. Every week was just hard work put on assignments on top of assignments, I couldn't catch a break except for the weekends, but I couldn't escape the guilt of escaping my work. I craved to go outside, even if my family didn't understand that. They say "If you want a break, then you can rest here at home!" but when I'm outside I feel so free and like my worries disappeared. Anyway, I got through the burn out so it all works out in the end, just another moment of letting emotions take over me.

@ASilentObserver I've experienced burnout before, yes.

Trying to be too independent 🆒 not knowing how to ask for help, not knowing what I didn't know.

Hopes and dreams kept me alive but I second guessed myself then worked twice as hard or beat myself up to compensate.

I hate burn out feeling, especially being a mom, having and feeling burnt out from being a mom is a sh-t feeling, I wouldn't change it, but just giving all my time to her and everything else to do with being a mom is hard, like hubby makes me feel like I can't do anything outside of being mom cause if I do than I can't put my time into her.. idk how to not feel like that I guess

@ASilentObserver

i found myself burned out, and as a result, I retired 4 years too early. Why I say too early? It cost me 33% of my pension. Then, I foolishly moved to Seattle, WA,USA to be with my sister. It’s so expensive here I’m working park time to pay bills. So, burnout got me good. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes!!! It is something I experienced a lot in the past. I would feel tired after completing a task in a couple days and it would make me feel very much drained as well as thoughts of inadequacy. This would very much lead to a discrepancy between how I perceive myself and the reality. I would not even want to get back on task and I have lived an “unproductive” life for a while.

Now, I feel like I developed a strong resilience against burnouts. This does not mean I do not feel it anymore, but I try to take a step back when I realize I am burnt out. I try to keep myself busy with the things I enjoy, which in my opinion helped a lot in terms of avoiding burn outs while remaining “productive.”

I do not take any long breaks anymore (not even a week off) but I found it to work it better for me. I allow myself to stop and reflect on my journey for a day or two off and get back to grind.

I think doing what I enjoy really helps with this.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

24/7 burnout, yes. 

@ASilentObserver I have experienced burnout many times over the course of my life. Everything gets too much, responsibilities at work and home and you need a break. And I feel that's exactly what's required, a break, a change from routine, even if it's for a day. In my case, I look forward for the 2 or so hours window I get on the weekends to a Me time and the yearly vacation to my home country. Apart from this, I used to go for daily walks. That helped, which  I need to start again. 

@ASilentObserver Yes, thank you for bringing this up! I'm struggling with it now. I find that one of the hardest things is not to let comparison be the thief of joy--and not even comparison with others, but with my past self. I used to have a job where I taught at five schools. It was really hard, but it felt manageable in the moment. Now, I have a job that is lower-stakes and more flexible: going to musical events and writing about music. When I think about going to a concert, though, I start to feel panic, and sometimes just opening a word document to write feels like the world's hardest challenge. I'm constantly distracted--overexercising, going on social media--in search of dopamine, I suppose. As others have said, if I give myself a break or let myself not go, it can get even harder to go to the next one. The cycle is rough. I'm trying to do all the things to keep myself healthy, and I have the flexibility to do that these days, but I feel like every day is an "action precedes motivation" fight and action can't always save me. It's been nice to read this thread and feel some community--I know that lots of folks feel this way. Thanks for reading!