Sometimes the stresses of life can take their toll on us. After all, we are living in an increasingly hectic world and when trying to balance so much – from a demanding career to raising a family – it’s not a surprise that mental burnout makes its presence known. What is burnout? Well, it’s a reaction or prolonged response to chronic stress and can result in a number of nasty outcomes, such as exhaustion, anxiety, and a sense of being ineffective in the workplace. These are certainly things we would all want to avoid. But how can we do so? Well, in this guide we are going to present a few helpful tips to utilize in your mission to combat mental burnout and achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Prioritize sleep

Another question to ask yourself would be: are you getting enough sleep? A healthy sleep schedule is very important and provides us with many helpful benefits through various aspects of our lives. If you are depriving yourself of sleep, working too late or not prioritizing this part of your health, any exhaustion you are feeling in other areas will certainly be exasperated. Having a regular night time routine is a very sensible idea, getting a 7-9 hours’ sleep as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation, making sure you are sleeping at home more often than not, and trying to relax before heading to bed will all reap benefits and help you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can’t expect to operate at full capacity during the day if you are not getting the requisite amount of sleep.

The team at the Alaska Sleep Clinic, an independent facility for sleeping disorders and a fountain of knowledge, spoke to us about the importance of a good night’s sleep for those suffering from mental burnout:

“You are getting ready for a big meeting at work. You are expected to give a key presentation. Because this is an important meeting you might bring your work home and work into the late hours to complete your presentation. The next day you feel groggy and less productive. Your presentation goes okay but it could have been better. While you might think working is more important than sleeping, it is not.

“Getting a good night’s sleep is the first step to preventing job burnout. You will be more productive, more accurate, focused, and ready to work. You will be able to balance your work and home life and be able to enjoy both more. With sleep, you will be more creative and energized. You will be able to face whatever challenges you run into during your day. Being happier and more in control at work will cause you not to have a job burnout. In fact, with everything you are doing, you might even end up with a promotion after turning your life around. So be sure to get a good night’s sleep tonight and face your day with a smile.”