Threatened by burnout

Burnout is a state of exhaustion affecting the mind, soul and body, which can last for months or years.

The root cause can often be found in a mismatch between the very high level of performance that is expected of us and our ability to live up to that. Attitudes and values play an important role. For example, you can feel very exhausted and listless although or precisely because there seem to be hardly any big external challenges: Retirement / early retirement are classical examples.

Have you discovered any of these important signals in yourself?

• Do you resort to alcohol (and also to medication) in order to relax or to be able to cope with everyday life?
• Have you somehow lost your joie de vivre?
• Do you often suffer from listlessness or irritability? Do you feel a sense of emptiness or meaninglessness?
• Are you disappointed of people around you (in your job and / or private life)?
• Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you find it hard to concentrate? Do you suffer from mood swings?
• Do you constantly feel tense and do you get the impression that everything is too much?
• Have you run out of creative ideas and lost hope that things can change?
• Do you find it hard to say no to people? Do you always try to please others?
• Have you had physical ailments like e.g. headache, backache, grinding teeth, gastro-intestinal problems or frequent colds?
• Do you feel generally drained and no longer able and willing to perform? As if your battery had run out?
• Do you often feel incapable of meeting the expectations of your professional / private environment and do you suffer because of that?
• Do you find it ever harder to take decisions?
• Do you get the feeling that you are often merely functioning somehow, without enjoying life?

Evaluation: If you were able to say yes to several of these questions this means that you are lacking vitality, joie de vivre and strength, that your focus is too much on what is outside of yourself and that you are looking to reconnect with yourself and your real needs.