Recognizing and Bouncing Back from Burnout.

We all feel burned out from time to time, especially this time of year. As school lets out and we slide into a busy summer, it feels like everything is happening at break-neck speed. While it's normal to feel overwhelmed, it's important to recognize the signs and understand when things are getting out of hand. Furthermore, once you identify burnout, it's key to have strategies in your arsenal to rest and recover.

So how do you really recognize burn out? More than a buzzword, burnout is a real and serious condition that can lead to big problems. Left untreated, the consequences are serious: shortened life expectancy, chronic illness, divorce, job loss, and psychological difficulties. Here are a few of the signs that let you know that you are suffering from burnout:

Poor performance

Change in eating habits

Sleep deprivation

Difficulty concentrating

Avoiding responsibilities

Poor performance

Loss of energy

Increased bouts of illness

Lack of productivity

Poor performance (just checking to see if you're paying attention)

Check, check, and holy crap check....right? So now what? Here are some strategies to recover from burnout, and maybe even avoid it entirely:

Incorporate daily / weekly "timeouts"

Set aside time for activities you love and recharge. Go for a hike, get a drink with a friend, read, endulge in a hobby, take a class. There's no wrong answer here--if spinning yarn out of your cat's fur is what makes your little heart happy, then that's what you should do.

Get enough sleep

"Enough" is relative. Some people need more than others, so don't go feeling guilty about what amount that is for you. Well rested people are happier, more productive and better looking (we made up that last part, but it's probably true).

Self reflection

Periodically, evaluate your goals and values and decide if adjustments need to be made. Something that felt so damn important a year ago, may not be serving you now, and that is perfectly okay. Take the time to evaluate your schedule and routine and eliminate the stuff that doesn't align with your ethos.

Take care of yourselves, friends. Keep an eye on the warning signs and make the necessary adjustments to be your happiest, healthiest self.

What do you do when you start to feel burned out? How do you get back to center when it all feels like too much? Let us know in the comments!