How to Prevent Burnout: 5 Simple Practices to Manage Stress Effectively:

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Nowadays, it is common to juggle multiple tasks at once, to the extent that achieving more targets seems to be the primary goal. Multitasking has rather unfortunately become a badge of honor that results in a sedentary and unfulfilled lifestyle. Often mental well-being is neglected in today’s hustle culture. As a byproduct, there is an accumulation of stress and burnout that, one fine day, becomes impossible to ignore.

Burnout in most cases starts off as being irritable, fatigued, and less motivated. Deepit Chandy, Therapist at Anna Chandy & Associates, Bengaluru explains how burnout typically starts off with very subtle signs like irritability, fatigue, or reduced motivation. From taking a break to refreshing oneself, the need for restoration can easily be misinterpreted as idling. One of her clients, for instance, ignored chronic fatigue out of concern for being stereotyped as idle, only to exhaust herself in the end. For this specific patient, the cost was weeks off work.

Stress does not mean you have to quit your job or move to a remote retreat. As Chandy explains, “It's about creating balance in the life you already live.” Without resorting to extremes, managing stress can be as simple as taking proactive and constructive measures to address the triggers before they spiral out of control.

5 Stress Control Methods That Work

These five Chandy’s recommendations are deceptively simple but remarkably effective:

Schedule tasks and personal time: Make sure to book your work hours and set aside personal time to walk, journal, or read. Recharge later in the week if you get too busy earlier on.

Practice self-care: Striving to be a high achiever can lead to overcommitting. Learn to say no and define your limits. Boundaries protect your energy without negatively impacting performance.

Take time off when necessary: Rest when feeling overwhelmed, whether it is using paid leave or taking a mental health day. For sustained performance and emotional health, rest is crucial.

Add physical activity to your routine: Remaining seated for an extended period of time increases mental exhaustion. Reducing tension and enhancing concentration can be achieved with light stretching, brief walks, or standing breaks.

Recognize signs early: Watch out for signs of emotional detachment or exhaustion, and address them quickly. Responding early preserves well-being and helps ensure deeper burnout is avoided.

Notice When There's Imminent Burnout

There is no need for concern as burnout can be avoided when it is detected timely. Use the body’s mental and physical signals as markers to gauge well-being, and ensure it is done noticed early, along with the need to decrease activity levels. This method enables healthy productivity while maintaining wellness.