Could a Physiotherapist help your Workplace Burnout?
We have all felt stressed whilst in the workplace. Rising pressure, tightening demands and the endless cycle of deadlines can push us to the limit at times. But when does this stress become something a little more sinister, and why does workplace burnout seem to rise?
Burnout is a psychological reaction to stress, mainly in the workplace, and it can manifest itself in several ways – the most common being a feeling of exhaustion. According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), there are three elements of workplace burnout we need to be aware of:
- Complete exhaustion or lack of energy
- Negative feelings towards our jobs
- A sense of ineffectiveness and lack of achievement
Unfortunately, there is a considerable rise in workplace burnout and the level of stress that you will find in work colleagues currently. With the pandemic entering its third year, employee losses and business financial struggles, it seems clear that these elements are a big part of workplace burnout. So how do we know when we are going through burnout, and most importantly, how do we overcome the challenges and live a healthy working life?
Signs and Symptoms of Workplace Burnout
Workplace burnout can be caused by various factors, but most commonly, it could be because of your workload and work-life balance, your profession (often healthcare) or how you feel you are treated in the workplace.
As burnout can manifest itself in many ways and symptoms can also relate to depression and stress, it can be challenging to identify a workplace burnout. However, it is important to note that depression and burnout are two different mental challenges and should be treated differently. Are you :
- Feeling unmotivated or lacking satisfaction with your work?
- Going through the motions rather than putting your heart and soul into a project?
- Constantly wishing it was the weekend – even from Monday?
- Developing unhealthy habits as coping mechanisms?
- Feeling overwhelmed, underachieving, exhausted or fearful?
The feelings described above are all symptoms of workplace burnout. Whilst we may all wish for the weekend now and again, we may feel tired after a busy week or don’t feel overly confident with the work we sometimes produce. Being in the middle of burnout means you will constantly feel some or all of these feelings. Exhaustion from burnout doesn’t get better with a good night’s sleep, so if you are feeling consistently exhausted or fatigued and the feeling is not going away, now may be the time to do something about it.
How Could a Physiotherapist Help you if you are Burned Out?
Now that we have identified what workplace burnout is and how we can identify it, we need to know what to do to overcome it and continue with our lives. Leaving burnout to dissipate on its own is not the answer, and this can often lead to us feeling worse than before. Involving professionals in our mental health is a positive step towards feeling better.
The role of a physiotherapist in our lives is to maximise our potential through rehabilitation and support. While these treatments are often for those who have physical challenges either through stroke, injury or neurological conditions, a treatment such as cupping therapy or acupuncture with a physio is often very relaxing and can stimulate different parts of our nervous system to cooperate once again. Exercise, yoga and meditation are also great activities to include in your daily routine to get your endorphins flowing and your blood pumping.
Combining these activities with a healthy diet, restful sleep, and self-care will help to combat your workplace burnout and leave you feeling refreshed. If you find that these changes in your lifestyle do not have the effect you need, we recommend contacting your local GP, who will be able to support you further.
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Physio Healing Hands can Support you to Feel Refreshed after Burnout
Being able to recognise your symptoms as workplace burnout is the first step on the road to getting better. At Physio Healing Hands, our main aim is to help our clients reach their full functional potential through high-quality physiotherapy services. Our experience
and knowledge within the healthcare and physiotherapy sector have meant
we can create a bespoke package of care and treatment for each client we work with.
If you are dealing with workplace burnout and would like to speak to one of our physiotherapists about the support and treatment we can provide, please get in contact with us today or visit us at our new clinic. Book an initial assessment to discuss your symptoms and work with us to find the best treatment for you and your health.
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