How do you work through burnout?

[9amTrain]

I've been cleaning for the past 6 months but the job didn't have enough hours available. I hated it anyway and it has made me permanently exhausted and I'm miserable every day I have to go in.

I picked up a second cleaning job, realised I couldn't cope with the differing hours of both so quit the first one as the new one has more hours. However there was no gap in between to have any kind of a break as I really need the money.

Less than two weeks in and I'm struggling. Haven't even got the strength to get a haircut and every day is getting harder. Like the novelty of a nicer working environment has completely worn off overnight!

It's not even like it's a full-time job either. But I do have some health problems which means I tire easily which is probably largely contributing.

Any tips on how to power through the burnout? I just work and get back in bed, rinse and repeat.

You cant. Your body is telling you it needs a break. Or you will totally crash. Take some sick time, then start sliwly. Access benefits if you can.
Sorry you dont feel great.

It's too soon :( guess I'll have to struggle through it. Hating it more each passing day. I don't have the energy to do anything outside of work or the energy to work properly for my entire shift.

And thank you by the way :)

Cleaning is a physically demanding job that requires stamina, if you are doing it right anyway. I would struggle to do several hours cleaning a day. Do you have to stay in cleaning? If you have health problems, it doesn't seem an ideal job (easy to say from the outside, I'm sure). Just trying to think through the problem.

Do you not get a break during your shift? Try to plan your shift. Is there any way you can get the tougher tasks done at the start to get them out of the way for example? Also could you change the environment and clean somewhere less demanding eg a person's home?

Hi,

Do you not get any annual leave/holiday? Even if you are an agency worker you are entitled to it. Even if your employers aren't keen on letting you have a holiday straight away as you've only been there a short time, I always find it is pyschologically helpful to have something booked in as then you can 'count down' the number of days/shifts until your break (even if you can't afford to go away, just the prospect of some time at home and a chance to catch up on sleep/chores and generally look after yourself might help?)

Otherwise look after yourself and be kind to yourself. Keeping your job/income is clearly important to keep the show on the road and the bills paid, but are there other areas of your life that can take a bit of a temporary backseat while you are feeling so exhausted, e.g. housework, can you lower your standards a bit or get family to help. Hobbies/DC's hobbies can have a bit of a break etc.

Also, obviously this is for the longer term but can you look at moving into a job that is less physical. When I was a cleaner I found it absolutely exhausting and I didn't have a health condition to manage too, so I'm not surprised you feel wiped out. Do you have or can you get the skills to move into something less physical, even something like retail work or reception/admin/call centre would be less tiring, or at least tiring in a different way? I know those kinds of jobs aren't necessarily easy to come by...

Thanks for the replies.

I will get annual leave eventually but as I've only just started I have to accrue it and don't want to take too much at the start.

I don't have a break because it's 'only' a 4 hour shift. But I'm currently I'm hid in the toilet to have a break anyway. I also did a cover shift this morning. My 5th one in 2 weeks and the other site I work at is gruelling.

I've just had a 3 day weekend, yet I'm over this week already. I'll hand my notice in in a few weeks I guess.

If you're thinking about resigning then surely you have nothing to lose and everything to gain from taking some accrued annual leave.

What hours/days are you working each week?

This is what I would do to muddle through until you can have a bit of a longer break.

• Early nights every night
• Getting others to do their fair share at home
• Forget as much housework as possible
• Easy and quick dinners
• Eat as well as possible
• Cancel any plans

Seriously. I know you say you're too tired to get a hair cut....so don't get a haircut and don't do any of the other optional things while you feel like this. Life can be relentless and I feel that a lot and so you need to make some time for rest and recuperation.

Also consider whether it might be worth having a blood test to check everything is as it should be. Exhaustion can sometimes be a sign of low iron. I take floradix (herbal supplement) from time to time which is amazing for boosting energy levels. I've recommended it to others and they have said the same too. Could be worth a try.

When I feel like this, I give up everything else in my life apart from work.

Can’t do it all, and work has to take priority so literally just work and sleep until I can plan in some time off.

I left a full time factory cleaning job of four months as I was exhausted to end up at a full time cleaning job at the train station and yep, exhausted again. That's cleaning for you sadly! I also have health issues which doesn't help. Need to try look for something else, we both do! But yep, I understand how you feel.

I have no responsibilities other than work so I've completely cut out every other aspect of my life. I work and stay in bed recovering and rarely do anything else. I'm not cooking at all, I'm living off takeaways or meal deals (not the best idea I know).

I'm meant to be working a minimum of 20 hours per week in the evenings but I have been asked to cover at different sites or other people's shifts almost every single day since I started a few weeks ago. So I've been doing one shift then having to wait around because there's little point in travelling home, then doing another 4 hours.

Which still doesn't sound like it should be making me feel this exhausted.

However I am investigating a possible health condition to find out why I'm so exhausted all the timeand I also have dyspraxia which can make those who have it tire very easily... Maybe it's just that and I'll never be able to work through it :( I even started injecting vitamin B12 and taking iron/folate/vitamin D but it has done nothing.

I just feel pathetic.

Thanks for the replies I appreciate them :)

Persevere with the vitamins. It can a considerable time for them to take effect.