Avoiding Burnout
“Burnout” is a term that is often used. It can be caused by taking on a lot of projects at one time, by being in a constant state of high-anxiety/stress, loss of external control and experiencing/witnessing traumatic events. After a prolonged period of a heightened state of stress, the body literally starts to work differently, changing your body’s hormone systems.
Burnout is your body telling you that you need to support yourself, get help where needed or take a break.
Burnout doesn’t always occur straight after an incident or period of high-stress, sometimes it is a delayed response and will only be felt months later. This is why it is so important to have a sustainable, reliable, supportive culture in place.
Burnout can occur for people who take on or support direct action, including both organising and engaging directly, because we often take on a lot or find ourselves in high energy or anxiety provoking situations, and of course we take this stuff on because we really care.
16 tips for avoiding climate burnout
Sustainable activism & avoiding burnout
Behavioral signs and symptoms of burnout: Withdrawing from responsibilities, isolating yourself from others, procrastinating, using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope, taking your frustrations out on others, skipping work or going in late.
Burnout doesn’t go away on its own so it’s important that you address the underlying issues causing it and create strategies for recovery. Dealing with burnout requires you to recognise your warning signs of burnout:
Any physical actions that may contribute to burnout – lack of sleep or irregular sleep, not eating well, skipping doing things you love
Physical signs and symptoms of burnout:
feeling tired and drained most of the time, lowered immunity and frequent illnesses, frequent headaches or muscle pain, change in appetite or sleep habits.
Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout:
sense of failure and self-doubt, feeling helpless, trapped, defeated, detachment, feeling alone in the world, loss of motivation, increasingly cynical and negative outlook, decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.
Any beliefs about yourself or the world that contribute burnout; how many “shoulds”, and “musts” are driving you?
Which ones de-energise you?
Can you change the word “should” to “could” and “must” to “choose”?
Notice the difference that makes to your choices. Reverse & Recover – Undo the symptoms of burnout by seeking support, managing stress, nourishing yourself (physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually) so that you can continue your work from a resourced place. Build your resilience to stress by taking care of your physical and emotional health.
What are things that give you energy?
Strengthening your resilience can help to prevent you from getting a burnout
Radical Resilience is a film project that aims to spread awareness and encourage discussion about burnout within environmental/social change movements.