Your tips for treating burnout.

[whatisforteamum]

After relentless stress for many months at home due to redundant and depressed dh,numerous other homelife stressors I can't mention or I will out myself.
Meanwhile I've been working 12 hr days short staffed for months too.
I feel exhausted and recognise I'm burning out again.last time I worked through it with therapy.
Any tips to reset myself quickly.I can't take annual leave as we are so short staffed.
My dh has work again and I feel empty.
Thanks in advance.

@whatisforteamum I've also worked in jobs where taking sick leave isn't an option (also SSP only) and annual leave can be blocked for 6 months or more. Short staffing is the norm.

People on mumsnet typically don't understand that.

What used to cheer me up was applying for jobs after work. I ended up going onto roles where I got paid a lot more and wasn't responsible for covering other people being off. You have a good work ethic and probably few sick days, so use it to go elsewhere or get a pay increase where you are.

In the short term, I found walking part of the way to and from work helped. Also going a walk at lunch. ASMR videos for sleep. I did spend a lot on therapy, but it was necessary to keep working.

Massages, baths, swimming, meditation, getting outside on your breaks at work if possible

Thank you yes I do walk too and from work and jog for 10 mins on my lunch hour outside for fresh air.
Days off I'm catching up on chores,food and sleep.

Oh god I've been there. Arrived for a night shift, was told I looked 'dead behind the eyes', referred to the matron in charge and sent home (sympathetically).

Contemplated driving my car into a tree on the way home-didn't.

Saw a GP the same day who signed me off and medicated me for 3 months.

I was completely broken by my life experiences by the time I was 26.

Short term? If its work, look at taking an extended break and seeking help in the form of counselling or coaching?

I ended up taking a career break but have gone back to my profession after two years and feel so much better.

I hope you manage to find some peace. Its so tough.

Hi OP, I just saw you mentioned chores and I wondered if there was a possibility of getting help there. My sister's and I have over the years often stepped in and helped out even very short term when illness or work had made life just too busy for one of us. Or can H do more, with his job situation resolved could u get even a temp cleaner 2 or 3 hours a week. I'd also recommend deleting a lot of social media , messaging apps & even news apps. Best of luck x

Citylady88 dh has helped hugely as he works a lot less hours than me.
I did say we may need a cleaner to do the main bits.
Whatnow glad you feel better.😊

Pacing yourself is critical, and it doesn't mean having a quiet day after a busy one- it means avoiding doing the busy day.

Try and plan things so you don't do chores or fun on a working day, for example.
On non working days do a balance of fun stuff and chores.

Prioritise chores that have ongoing benefits- setting up efficient new systems, or decluttering, rather than just vacuuming constantly.

Fun stuff is really important, but try not to do fun that exhausts you. A day at a theme park may be fun but it's also knackering! Find some restful and refreshing fun!

Not the same 5hing but I had a wee breakdown a few years ago. Things that helped me include:

Exercise
Mindfulness apps like Calm.
Colouring books (anything creative, actually)
Getting counselling
Eating small amounts every couple of hours (not anything considered junk food)
And yes, Time Off. I appreciate you are reluctant on that point but it's necessary. I stayed with my parents in the countryside for a coof weeks. Did the world of good.
I'm also consider all aspects of your marriage. I appreciate your DH has been unwell but it's important that partners of people with mental health issues get support too. Is he getting support? Does he acknowledge his illness' effect on you?

Sorry for the typos.

Undoubtably you have endured a lot and sometimes we experience a post stress crash so we need to be mindful of that.

However are there any other physical health issues that might also need investigation and addressing - thyroid / iron etc?

Also what age are you - peri meno symptoms are relentless and IME v similar to burnout. No amount of lifestyle changes shifted it until I had HRT - like someone had put the batteries back in and switched me on again.

I have a similar situation and have faced almost complete burnout at least twice in recent times. The only thing I have found that helps to to take a step back and minimise responsibilities, while including some things you find refreshing - like reading a book, going for a walk, working in the garden, watching a film, napping. I found I was at the point where I just had to make those changes or I might just not get out of bed one day. A very low dose of antidepressant has also helped.

I like that description (battery change) and will remember it. I found an antidepressant did that for me. Also perimenopausal which does not help at all when in a high stress life.

Yes well into the me no symptoms and I swear I've had the majority of them 🤣
Switched around HRT doses,have a good sleep routine but fun eludes me.
All work and no play tbh.
Sorry to hear that Borisjohnsonsvomitbucket.Sometimes it all overwhelms us doesn't it.
I do need to distance from dh.He didn't seek the help that was offered.infact he mocked me saying he didn't need to speak to anyone when the gp suggested it.
Trying to persuade someone to look for work has been difficult whilst working under pressure myself.
I've helped with applying and suggested jobs I've seen online.
It is really hard when nothing is motivating him.

How are you?