Wellbeing burnout is being talked about a lot on social media. But is it a ‘thing’? He’s why we would say NO
By Diane Small
Loads of news stories relating to wellbeing “burnout” are currently doing the rounds on social media. And even more influencers are claiming that they’re suffering from it. But is it true?
Wellbeing by nature refers to building up the mind, body, and spirit. Definitely not detracting from it! This idea of burnout in wellness primarily comes from the stress people put themselves under to achieve wellbeing, and that’s a different thing altogether. It relates to hectic lifestyles where taking care of the body and mind is often an afterthought following a long day at work.
And we get it. It’s not unusual for people to actually feel stressed about how, after work, they need to work on themselves. And that’s not fun.
“The idea that wellbeing could be something that leads to burnout is contradictory.” says The Fitness Group, an organisation that trains personal trainers. “It suggests that there’s something significantly wrong in the person’s approach, or that practices relating to well-being aren’t a part of their routine.”
This fact, though, hasn’t prevented stories about wellbeing burnout from showing up in celebrity magazine columns. These argue that many people feel pressured to support their wellbeing, even if it takes a toll on their mental health. Obviously, this undermines the purpose of the practice in the first place.
The Best Approach
The key to avoiding this sensation of burnout when pursuing wellness is to find more effective ways to incorporate it into lifestyles, according to The Fitness Group.
“People interested in avoiding wellbeing burnout need to find ways to make self care as a part of what they do every day, not just something they add to their routine. This realisation is one of the reasons so many people are leaving their corporate office jobs and choosing alternatives.”
For example, more of us are opting to work at home, where we can easily take a break to do, say, 20 minutes of breathing exercises any time we like.
Others are completely changing their lifestyle, ditching the office for other professions. They may choose to become a yoga teacher, life coach, or freelance personal trainer, for example. This approach incorporates wellbeing into your daily routine much more. It also reduces the ‘stress’ that may be the root of wellbeing burnout.
Other Easy Fixes
One solid piece of advice for people who feel wellbeing burnout is to switch off social media and the internet. Then simply spend time being quiet.
Many people feel pressured to adopt the latest health trends. Think: keto diets, HRT or IV infusions. But it is often consistently doing the things that work, like just eating a healthy daily diet and getting regular exercise, that bring the best health benefits. Other activities are just the icing on the cake, not essentials that need inclusion into routines.
Another piece of advice for people with burnout is to focus more on the things that work for them instead of those that seem effective on other people. Again, it’s simple advice, but also highly effective.
For example, many people don’t respond to conventional hour-long meditation sessions. But they do find significant benefits from simple, 15-minute breath work exercises. This shortens the time they need to focus on wellness. But it’s also very effective.
Undergoing professional psychotherapy is another example. Sure, two-hour-long sessions can work for some people. But others can get the same level of benefits by simply journaling. This takes way less time – and money!
“The same principle applies to people pursuing fitness,” The Fitness Group says. “You have people who respond strongly to just a couple of workouts every week, while you have others who need to be hitting the weights daily to see the gains they want. There’s often a massive variation in what people can handle and tolerate, something that we spend a lot of time talking to trainers about on our courses.”
Doing wellness with other people can also make the process feel less exhausting. Getting others involved in the process can be an excellent way to turn it into an uplifting social event.
Take It Easy
Ultimately, experts believe that the core of the wellbeing burnout phenomenon is the result of taking things to extremes. Some personalities want to push everything as far as it will go. Even if the underlying concept is to take a step back and be more gentle in your approach.
Many times, wellness burnout comes from extreme or unsustainable approaches. Think: exercising for several hours every day or consuming a hyper-restrictive diet. These practices can actually have harmful effects on the body, making it less robust over time, and preventing the very adaptation wellness advocates say they want.
The main point is that real wellbeing certainly is sustainable. It should just be part of your routine. Something you can do for months or years on end without taking a break.
“Wellbeing and fitness habits should feel natural and enjoyable,” The Fitness Group explains. “People should want to stick to their routines, whether they work with a personal trainer or not. Happiness usually only happens when things aren’t being forced. When people are in a flow state, that’s when they’re at their best and living life to the fullest.”
Often, when wellness feels like burnout, it is a mindset problem. Many people say to themselves:“Oh no, not another meditation or yoga class.” This approach makes it seem like wellbeing is something that people have to do instead of want to do, which automatically creates mental blocks.
The same is not true when the attitude shifts toward enjoyment. For example, a person might say “The gym is a chance for me to take care of my body” instead of “Oh no, not another gruelling gym session I have to endure after a long day at work.”
Here’s how to incorporate wellbeing into your day to day routine:
- Stay hydrated by buying a stainless steel water bottle and carry it with you all day
- Walk or cycle to work if possible, and skip the gym
- Use only all natural/organic beauty and grooming products
- Take 10 minute breaks every hour, away from your computer
- To avoid wellbeing burnout, forget about trendy diets. Just eat fresh, organic food whenever possible
Finally, if you’re still feeling burnt out, as an expert for help.
“Personal trainers are often great people to talk to about wellness and burnout because they’re on the front lines,” says The Fitness Group. “Professionals can often tell when their clients over-do it and need to take a break from everything. It’s not healthy to turn wellness into a goal or challenge. It should be the opposite.”
- Why Wellbeing Burnout Isn’t Real - December 18, 2024
- 8 Of The Most Romantic Getaways In Europe - December 15, 2024
- The Best Ethical Evening Dresses For Big Events - December 10, 2024