Mai-tai’s on the beach. Water lapping at your toes. No deadlines or angry customers. Many talk about these things as the ultimate cure for burnout. In fact, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, fatigued, and anxious you might be considering a vacation as well. But does vacation for burnout really help?
What Is Burnout?
Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that can affect anyone. It’s caused by chronic and long-term workplace stress.
Burnout is characterized by a lack of enthusiasm for work, social withdrawal, and feeling cynical about work. It can affect you in the office or at home, but it’s most commonly associated with working environments where employees feel undervalued or overworked.
Vacation for Burnout
People facing burnout often think of vacation as their only escape. Vacation allows you the opportunity to get away from the constant stress of your life. Plus, it usually involves novel experiences and luxuries that you don’t usually experience in your day to day life.
If taking a week or two off work just can’t happen, try taking a day or two off at a time. A weekend trip or just a day at home can help release some of the stress work adds to your life.
Does Vacation Cure Burnout?
Taking time off work helps you escape the stress of your job. But does it actually cure burnout? For most people, vacation serves only as a temporary fix. Unfortunately, even though you’re on vacation, the stress of your job is still there. The same issues will be waiting for you when you return.
However, taking a vacation when you’re burnt out can help, particularly when you’ve been overworking. The small reduction in stress of a day or two off helps you make other changes that can help your burnout even greater in the long term.
Healing Burnout
While taking a vacation doesn’t cure burnout, taking regular time out is an important step towards healing. Additionally, you can heal by taking care of yourself in other ways. For example, ensure you’re getting enough sleep and eating food that nourishes your body.
Additionally, certain mindset shifts help you to keep burnout at bay. Particularly, remember that your workplace will likely always be chaotic. You can be the calm in the storm.
It can also be helpful to talk to a therapist about your burnout. She can help you identify any areas where your self-care can improve and any mindset shifts that might be beneficial for you to make.
Final Thoughts
Burnout is a serious issue and, if left untreated, can lead to more significant concerns. A vacation may not cure your burnout, but it can serve as a starting point for other things.
