Do even the simplest things seem complicated to you? Do they take on a weight, a magnitude? Did you not need this additional thing to manage? You no longer have the time, and a To-Do list that grows day by day. Just thinking about it gives you anxiety. Worse, you can’t sleep anymore! Your life is starting to be just one thing: this never-ending To-Do list that devours all your time, energy, and willpower.

Hmm, yes, we often talk about Burnout, and it’s not because it’s a trendy term, but rather because more and more of us are experiencing its symptoms. It is essential to spread awareness about this phenomenon; even when we know it exists, we may not recognize ourselves in a burnout situation.

In our education system, we often deny ourselves. What we feel is considered nothing. We feel tired, anxious, maybe even sadness; everything feels heavy. There is an extraordinary tendency to procrastinate, and we can’t sleep because our recurring thoughts won’t stop. But! We must finish the project, it will pass, if others can do it, the problem must be with us… so, we have less energy to go out and see friends, to read, to exercise. Gradually, we become this To-Do list, we become our job, and we continue in this infernal abyss until we break.

Let’s be clear, mental illnesses exist, and yes, they are illnesses; they manifest symptoms. There is no shame in suffering from a mental illness. Suffering from a mental illness does not make us weak. But it is a health condition that needs to be considered just like the flu, a viral or bacterial infection. There should be no fear in talking about what we feel. With the necessary prevention, I hope we can avoid reaching the breaking point and realize that something is happening and we need to be careful.

I believe it is important to protect oneself to be capable. If we are in a Burnout situation, we no longer feel capable, but we continue. It is important to know when to stop. This involves setting limits and establishing realistic and achievable goals.

I think the culture that says everyone is replaceable does not help in establishing a healthy schedule. Wanting to be a good employee is seen as a sign of success – “making it.” We often forget that there is a world outside. There are other companies, other jobs, other positions. If the employee is replaceable, so is the employer. The fear of ending up with nothing should not be the driving force to overwork. Therefore, one should not feel guilty about taking a 10-minute break between tasks or not working 24/7.

Truly, the first thing to do is to talk about it to find help and solutions that suit you.

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