Running On Empty

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Running On Empty

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Running on empty

Burnout has numerous negative effects on the body as well as the mind.
So what’s the best way forward in avoiding or recovering from it?
There’s a problem in modern society. Somewhere along the shows that UK workers put in more than £35billion-worth
line, being busy got confused with being productive, and now of unpaid overtime in 2019.
it seems that the busier a person is, the more important and The World Health Organisation classes burnout as a purely
valuable they’re considered to be. Unfortunately, this also occupational phenomenon, resulting directly from exhaustion
means they’re more susceptible to burnout. ‘Don’t equate and chronic stress. Of course, stress is a common condition that
busyness with importance,’ says chartered psychologist everyone experiences, and a certain amount can be useful to
Suzy Reading. ‘Just because you’ve got lots on and you’re heighten alertness and aid focus, but burnout serves no one.
in high demand it doesn’t make you any more worthy than ‘Stress feels like, “If you give me an extra day in the week, I’ll
someone who’s pacing themselves.’ be okay”, but burnout is more a sense of, “You could give me an
Perhaps it can be blamed on the cavemen because, 100,000 extra year to get this done, but I’ve got nothing left”. It’s “Stop
years ago, the more you hunted, gathered and contributed the world, I want to get off”. It’s energetic bankruptcy,’ says
to the tribe, the more dominant and important you were. Suzy. And burnout manifests in all sorts of different ways. ‘You
The pace has picked up somewhat since then, though, and might feel distant or numb, a diminished motivation or hope,’
although acceptance and self-worth remain pillars of human she adds. ‘Physically, burnout can show up in the suppression
need, it can be argued that a person’s validity need not be so of the immune system. Ailments will linger or [you might
tightly linked to productivity and output. have] a collection of illnesses at the same time, or maybe it’s a
Naturally, there are many people who are simply passionate flare-up of neck and shoulder pain.’ Burnout also weaves its way
about their work and push themselves for the sheer love of it into sleep behaviour – going to bed feeling tired but wired or
and the belief that what they do matters. Being busy and having experiencing dream-heavy sleep, where the brain is desperately
a demanding schedule can be a positive story of achievement trying to unpick the day’s emotional load.
and self-fulfilment. But it can also be a narrative of being Every human is in danger of burnout but, interestingly, it’s
pushed beyond your capability and compromising your health. not a global phenomenon. It depends on the culture you live in
To date, burnout has been tagged more than 3 million times on and what that demographic deems important. Predominantly,
Instagram, and TikTok videos sharing advice on how to ward in the western world, ambition is applauded and status awarded
against it have been viewed a staggering 1.5 billion times. for productivity, but in tribes of the Amazon, for example, it’s
Realistically, many individuals don’t get to choose how busy community that’s paramount, so if someone in the village has a
they are. Some might have additional work unceremoniously problem, everyone rallies to help. Economic disparity also plays
thrust upon them because of staffing issues, others take on a part in the burnout picture because residents of wealthier,
overtime to cover bills. Often, concerns about job insecurity economically advantaged countries work fewer hours than
and the need to prove dedication is the push, and then there those of developing countries. According to the Organisation
are the self-employed, who do whatever it takes to make for Economic Co-operation and Development, people in Mexico
their venture work. The paradox is, the more hours and Colombia work the most hours per week, while Germany
that are worked, the less productive each hour is, ranks top in the fewest working hours per week. Perhaps
and yet, research by the Trades Union Congress Germans don’t feel the desperation to work longer hours for

14
POCKETS OF PEACE
Factoring in 30 seconds here, or two minutes there, can be all
the protection that’s needed against burnout. These momentary
rituals replenish without adding to the load and can make
a significant diﬀerence to wellbeing

Sitting at your desk

Cross your hands and rest your head on them for 30 seconds.

Why? There’s an acupressure point in the forehead, and anyone that’s familiar
with child’s pose or pigeon pose in yoga (where you earth the brow), will have
felt the benefit. It reboots the nervous system, allowing you to reset and then
re-enter the day with a sense of calm.

After lunch
Lying down with your legs up against the wall for five minutes, any time
between 1pm and 3pm.

Why? This is the time when you often feel like going to bed for an hour but
don’t have the time. With the whole of your legs supported by the wall, blood
flow is redistributed to your vital organs, rejuvenating the entire body. Plus,
there’s no pressure to drop oﬀ, so you don’t have to be asleep to be getting
the benefits of rest.

Before bed
Tenderly massage in some magnesium body balm before you go to sleep.

Why? Magnesium can help ease anxiety as it taps into the part of the brain called
the hypothalamus, which regulates neurotransmitters and helps you drift oﬀ to
sleep more easily. By working it into your muscles, you connect with your body,
rather than being locked into your busy mind.