True Life: I Am Struggling with Burnout

Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress.

I haven’t posted in a while because life got hectic. Over the past few months, I’ve experienced significant burnout which has affected me mentally, emotionally, and physically. I realized I don't see a lot of people talk about burnout on social media platforms so I decided to share my story.

A Little Background

In January, I decided to quit all my side jobs to focus on career advancement. I worked as a Spanish translator, mainly for an immigration law firm translating evidence for court. As many of you know, resume writing, applying for jobs, networking and interviewing can be a full time job within itself. I started to high gear my search and have been fortunate to have so many calls and interviews, sometimes 10 interviews within a week, but nothing that has been the right fit for me and my aspirations.

During this period, I faced my own health issues. Athlete-induced asthma from untreated bronchitis in January hit me hard. I went from running 8 miles a day to barely managing half a mile. I was sleeping 11-13 hours a night after workouts and felt nauseous, with a lack of appetite and constant fatigue.

Personal Struggles

Despite my efforts, things got tougher when my dad was diagnosed with blood cancer in February. Between interviewing and taking care of my own health issues, I had no time to process my emotions or take time for myself. My dad also had an unexpected 2 week hospital stay that took a toll on our family. While things have been hectic, I haven't given up on my goals, I am still job hunting, running, crossfitting, supporting my family, and maintaining my full-time job, sometimes working weekends to catch up all to the best of my ability.

One day I sat down and realized I felt emotionally drained and exhausted and realized that I am burnout. I was extremely fatigued, was experiencing some anxiety, I felt a loss of enjoyment in the things I previously loved doing like running, I wasn't as motivated and my overall productivity slowed down, the little tasks at work that I would get done within minutes, I kept putting off for days.

While there are many signs of burnout, here are a few of the top reported symptoms:

1. Exhaustion: Constant fatigue, lacking energy, feeling drained.

2. Cynicism and Detachment: Negative attitude towards job, colleagues, friends, or family; feeling detached.

3. Feelings of Ineffectiveness: Sense of failure, self-doubt, feeling unappreciated.

4. Reduced Performance: Difficulty concentrating, lack of creativity, decreased productivity.

5. Health Problems: Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, changes in sleep and appetite.

Managing Burnout

I’m still struggling with burnout, but I’m trying to manage it with these strategies:

1. Prioritize Myself and My Time: Learning to prioritize my needs and desires, realizing it's okay to say no to people when plans are asked to be made, and learning to put myself first.

2. Focus on What I Can Control: Embracing the present, engaging in activities I enjoy, and prioritizing self-care. Taking the time to sit down and read a book, enjoy the weather, and do things that I haven't made time to do before and bring me joy.

3. Therapy: Regular therapy sessions help me process my emotions and maintain mental health. I am a huge advocate for therapy, especially to those who invest so much time in their physical health, I believe you should also invest that much time into your mental health.

4. Slow Down: Trying to appreciate the present moment, carving out time for myself, and enjoying life without rushing to the next big thing.

This is the first time in my life that I have experienced burnout to this extreme level. While I am still trying to navigate it, I hope this article sheds some light for others. I would love to hear from you about how you cope with burnout.