No Days Off is Not a Flex... Burnout is REAL

NO DAYS OFF IS NOT A FLEX.

Did you know that “burnout” is an actual diagnosable condition?

It was labeled an official diagnosis by the World Health Organization in 2019, and is classified as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

What’s messed up is that workplace stress is not only normalized- it’s glorified. No wonder 2021 was the year of “the great resignation.”

We know it’s not right- we can feel it in our stressed out bodies and dysfunctional lives.

Chronic, unmanaged stress keeps the sympathetic nervous system on constant high alert. Dysregulated nervous systems are key contributors to mental health issues, addiction, blood pressure complications, cardiac distress, and other conditions and behaviors that reduce quality of life such as exhaustion and difficult relationships.

Burned out people may try to self soothe or regulate their nervous systems, often through unhealthy means like substance abuse.

I’m simply amazed at how the leading health issues that plague us are directly linked to dysregulated nervous systems and we haven’t correlated burnout or lack of rest to our ill bodies and minds.

So what can we do?

We can-

breathe deeply often. I know it’s free and easy and always accessible so it sounds too good to be true. But deep breaths are the easiest way to recalibrate ourselves when we feel stressed.

boundaries. This is hard but necessary. Anyone or anything that isn’t a hell yes is a hell no. Including your job. That’s right I said it. There are always portals of income and more and more companies are prioritizing mental health. You aren’t stuck. Set your hours and let the people you interact with know what you can handle- if they repeatedly ignore your boundaries- BYE

(Maybe this is a privileged view but the way I see it, you are replaceable to your employer and they should be replaceable to you too.)

REST. Not just sleep. The 7 types of rest are passive physical (sleep), active physical (yoga, massage), mental rest (breaks, journaling, meditation), sensory rest (unplugging), creative rest (take in nature or art), emotional rest, and spiritual rest.

Here’s to REST!