Burnout is a syndrome that occurs when a person experiences chronic stress at work that is not well managed. It can cause physical and emotional exhaustion, reduced professional performance, and detachment from work. Image source: Tisha Sharp
I am working on a project that is very demanding and challenging. It requires a lot of time, effort and attention to detail. The deadline is approaching and I feel like I have to do everything perfectly. This is causing me a lot of anxiety and pressure, which is affecting my physical and mental health. I am experiencing burnout, which is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It makes me feel overwhelmed, drained and unable to cope.
I also have to deal with the hassle of commuting every day, which adds more stress to my already hectic schedule. I have to travel between my home, my office and the client’s location, which takes a lot of time and energy. I often get stuck in traffic jams, deal with rude drivers and face unpredictable weather conditions. The only day I get to rest is Sunday, but that is not enough to recover from the accumulated fatigue and tension. I need more time to relax, unwind and recharge myself.
Yesterday I had to travel to the KL centre and face a challenging but stimulating conversation with a client who had high expectations and different opinions from mine. This was a stressful but rewarding experience that drained me of some of my resources. Then, I had to hurry back from KL to the office, barely avoiding the traffic jams that would have added more pressure and frustration to my day.
As soon as I arrived at the office, I had to join another meeting where I had to share my ideas and listen to others’ feedback. This was another opportunity to learn and grow, but also another source of tension and fatigue. By the end of the day, I felt exhausted, irritable and unmotivated. I had experienced several factors that contributed to burnout, and I needed to find ways to cope and recover.
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I had been working non-stop for weeks, trying to meet the deadlines and expectations of my boss and clients. I felt exhausted, stressed and frustrated, but I had no choice but to keep going. I was on the verge of burnout, a state of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by chronic work-related stress. Burnout can lead to reduced performance, lower motivation, increased absenteeism and higher turnover rates.
One night, I finally finished a major project and hoped to get some rest at home. I left the office late, hoping that the roads would be empty and I could drive peacefully. However, as I approached the toll plaza, I saw a long line of cars waiting to pay.
There was a traffic jam that seemed to stretch for miles. I wondered what was causing it and soon found out – a car had broken down in one of the lanes and some drivers were trying to cut in front of others, creating more chaos and anger & adding to my burnout. I felt my blood pressure rise as I honked my horn and cursed under my breath. I wished I could just get out of there and escape from this nightmare.
As I was driving back, I thought that life was too short to be spending on traffic jams and work. I wished that I could retire and go away far from the hustle and bustle of city life. The tiredness was unbearable. The last thought in my mind as I was reaching home was to take a quick dinner, shower and go to sleep early.
But when I reached the main gate of my house at the edge of burnout, my wife came out and informed me that she needed to go to the clinic. Instead of going into the house and taking a rest first, I decided to take her straight to the clinic. Might as well do this task in one go and then go back home for the night for good.
With my wife in the car, I reversed the car and drove towards the clinic. My wife suddenly asked me “Burnout?”
Ha ha, what a question! I replied no and continued with the journey. There must be a better day for me to take a good rest and recover.