Dealing with work burnout

1. Stop WorkingSeriously. Down tools, talk to your manager as soon as possible, and take a break. Not a five-minute break, and not a couple of days at home. You need a complete and total cut-off from work. You should explain why, without sounding like you’re whining or getting emotional. Be rational, lay out all the reasons you deserve a break, and why you will be an even better employee when you return. Ideally, you should be gone for at least two weeks, and you should make sure you have no contact with the office.2. Find a ReleaseFor some people, it’s CrossFit or martial arts. For others, it’s paintball battles, soccer, racquetball, or bowling. Many people enjoy video games, while others prefer a shooting range or a dozen laps of the pool. The way that you release your aggression and frustration is not important, as long as it’s not harmful to yourself or others. 3. Have a Heart to Heart With Someone CloseAnother way to relieve a little pressure is to share your problems, thoughts, and concerns with someone that genuinely cares about your well-being. It could be a spouse, a son or daughter, your best friend, a neighbour, or a trusted co-worker (don’t go spilling the beans to someone who is known to spread gossip, or use the information against you). They do not have to be in the same industry, and they do not have to understand exactly what it is you do. 7. Work Away From Your DeskA change of scenery can do you the world of good, even if you’re still working 12-hour shifts seven days a week. Find a local coffee shop or bar, or go to the nearest park. It’s truly remarkable how much this can help with the burnout feelings. However, do not work from home. When you are experiencing burnout, you need to make every effort to separate work life from home life. The last thing you should be doing is bringing work home with you. 9. Get Plenty of Sleep, Exercise, and Eat WellIt goes without saying that when we get stressed, we look for ways to feel more comfortable. For many of us, that included eating comfort foods, drinking alcohol, and collapsing on the sofa in front of some TV. However, that will not help your mental and physical state one bit. Don’t reach for the chips and the remote. Instead, create a plan to exercise more, and eat more healthy foods. And get a good eight hours of sleep in every night. No late-night movie binges, and no snacking at midnight. Think of your body as an overworked machine. It needs love and care. 10. Quit Your JobAs a last resort, you may have to quit the company you’re working for. For some people, it’s a choice between quitting and finding a more reasonable way to earn a living, or persevering to the point of a breakdown. And in that case, it’s really no choice at all. You cannot afford to become so mentally and physically ill that you become incapacitated. So, find a way to quit. Ideally, you’ll want to have another source of income lined up, with enough of a gap between quitting the old job and starting the new one to refresh. But if it’s either quit or risk your sanity, then quit.

Dealing with work burnout

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-03

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Dealing with work burnout

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-03

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