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Burnout: The 6 Stages to Burnout Recovery Backed by Science

Apr 16, 2024 | How to Be More Productive, Productivity

Burnout- The 6 Stages to Burnout Recovery Backed by Science

Are you feeling exhausted, unmotivated, and overwhelmed? If so, you’re likely burned out and You’re not alone, we’re living in a wild world and life and work get crazy sometimes taking a toll on your mental and physical well being.

Today we’re talking about research that discovered a six stage recovery process to bounce back from burnout and reclaim yourself and your productive mojo . 

A Study Titled: A Study of Coping: Successful recovery from severe burnout and other reactions to severe work-related stress published in Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology explores the experiences of workers who successfully recovered from severe burnout caused by work-related stress.

The researchers identified six key stages in the recovery process that you can follow to recover from burnout:

  1. Admit the problem – Recognize that you have the signs and symptoms of burnout. They include Exhaustion (emotional and physical), Cynicism and Detachment,  Reduced Sense of Accomplishment, Increased Irritability and Negativity, Changes in Sleep Patterns, Changes in Appetite: Loss of appetite or overeating.Procrastination and Reduced Productivity,Increased Reliance on Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms. Do you have any of these things that is outside your normal self?
  2. Distance yourself from work – Take some time away from work demands, potentially through vacations or sick leave.
  3. Start Restoring your health – Focusing on physical and mental well-being through activities that promote relaxation and self-care. Things like hitting the gym every day, running, biking, mediation, and even getting out in nature.
  4. Question your values – Re-evaluate work priorities and career goals. Sit down and start writing what’s on your mind. Just this will help you start thinking about how you’re feeling.
  5. Explore work possibilities – Consider changes in your work environment, responsibilities, or even careers. No thought is wrong and everything is on the table for consideration.
  6. Make objective changes – Implement concrete steps to address the root causes of burnout that you’ve identified. Sometimes it can be as simple as hitting the gym and eating right, in extreme cases you need to take a vacation for a month three or even six months.

Sometimes burnout creeps up on you just when you think you have it all together. Or you know it plaguing you and are in denial. 

Either way, the key to the process to recover is self-awareness, honestly about what’s happening and then taking action to address the root causes of the stress to make changes. 

You can do this. 

Your move.

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