Behavioral Signs of Burnout
My first few years of teaching, I was really hard on myself.
Yes, I was pushing myself really hard at school, but I was ALSO beating myself up for certain behaviors that I couldn’t seem to shake.
I was beating myself up for emotionally eating, for crashing on the couch for hours after school, for not having it in me to hang out socially with my friends…
I knew chronic stress could impact me physically - What I didn’t know is just how much stress can impact our behavior.
The list below contains some of the common behavioral changes people may experience when suffering with chronic stress - Can you relate to any of these?
Behavioral Signs of Burnout
1. Withdrawing from activities and relationships you enjoy.
2. Isolating yourself from others.
3. Procrastinating; taking longer to get things done.
4. Engaging in numbing behaviors such as abusing alcohol and drugs, emotionally eating, etc.
5. A change in eating behaviors (i.e. over- or under-eating).
6. Over- or under-exercising.
7. Over- or under-working.
8. Taking out your frustrations on others.
9. Skipping work or wanting to skip work; coming in late and leaving early.
Question of the Week
Do you notice any of these behavioral warning signs of burnout in yourself or in members of your school community?
“If you don’t want to burn out, stop living like you’re on fire.”
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