Battling Job Burnout: 4 Ways to Put Out the Fire

Do you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock more than once in the morning? Do you get sick just thinking about work? Do you become irritable and aggravated at work more often than usual? If you answered "yes" to any or all of these questions, you may be experiencing "burn out".

Burnout is described as exhaustion that has been apparent for long periods of time and it can affect you both mentally and physically. Symptoms usually appear when you become overworked and stressed. If you don't remedy the situation soon, the end result could damage you mentally, physically and professionally.

Battling Burnout

According to Kenya McCullum, a freelance writer and founder of the blog community www.uselessonline.com, it's important to determine where the negative feelings are coming from. If you're experiencing burnout, create a list of pros and cons about the job. This will give you an understanding of what your likes and dislikes are, and give you insight to the problem's source. After the list has been created and evaluated, try the following approaches to remedy the situation:

1. Talk to your supervisor

Most of the time, the supervisor is oblivious of a problem until you make a noticeable mistake. Then, you'll hear about it when it comes time for your performance evaluation or when you're called into the office to be reprimanded. Before this happens and becomes a blemish on your permanent employee record, inform your supervisor about what's bothering you. Believe it or not, most employers are receptive to their employees and will assist in making the work environment more manageable for you and them. The last thing an employer wants is a disgruntled employee.

2. Request to work on different projects

I know your wondering, "Why would I want to take on more work?" Look at it from this point of view: working on a project that is new and more challenging can change your outlook by removing the monotony. In addition, you will gain experience in completing new tasks that can be added as accomplishments to your resume.

3. Take a mini vacation

Getting away from the office for a short period of time is good for the mind and soul. Take a long weekend to visit an old friend, take a road trip, or stay at home and relax. Take note: This means there is to no contact with the office, so forget the laptops, PDAs, and any other devices that would keep you connected to the job. The point is to get the as much R&R as possible.

4. Relaxation Exercises

When you're stressed, try breathing exercises. Allowing oxygen to the brain can not only clear your mind, but also allow you to focus and relieve physical tension. Other relaxation methods include meditation, yoga, or simply go out to lunch; in other words, leave the office in order to get away from the work environment and clear your mind.

Extinguishing burnout as soon as it's recognized is critical for your health, both mentally and physically. Similar to a burning building, if it's is not extinguished quickly, the damages could be detrimental and costly.