According to a 2021 survey of 1,500 US workers, more than half of those surveyed said they were feeling burned out as a direct result of their job demands. Of these, over half also reported working longer hours in the previous months — a problem made worse by the sudden shift to working from home, where switching off is more difficult.
When you add into the mix other sources of stress, such as rapidly increasing living costs, rising inflation and housing shortages, it is little wonder that burnout is in the news once again.
Burnout is not just a general term for work-related life or job stress, however. It is an actual medical condition that has been identified by international medical organizations such as the World Health Organization. In their recently revised classification of diseases, burnout is defined as a form of chronic workplace stress that manifests in feelings of exhaustion, negative feelings or cynicism and reduced efficiency. If left unaddressed, burnout can have serious professional and personal consequences.
One of the ways to prevent burnout is to ensure that you are taking sufficient time off from work and other obligations that are proving to be a source of stress. While taking extended vacations or personal leave is one way of accomplishing this, there are many activities you can undertake to help you switch off. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to live in the moment and enjoy your time off.
Pick up new or old hobby
Having hobbies that you pursue in your spare time is not just a great way to develop new skills and passions, but also provides you with a way to switch off from daily life stresses.
Hobbies can come in many forms and range from the more active, such as fishing or golf, to the more passive, such as watching TV or playing video games or online casinos for real money.
Playing at online casinos is one increasingly popular pastime that has exploded in popularity in recent years. The ability to catch up with friends virtually while also playing at online casinos for real money has proved to be a hit around the world.
Regardless of whether you resume an older hobby or pick up a new one, the most important thing is to allow yourself to become fully engrossed in the activity and to switch off as much as possible.
Learn a language
Another great way to spend your downtime is to use this time to learn a new language.
Learning a new language is one of the most useful things you can do with your spare time, particularly when you combine it with traveling abroad to put it to use! These new-found language skills will not only allow you to meet new people and to travel to new places, they also open up new forms of artistic expression — whether it is through music, books or films.
Re-connect
Perhaps one of the best uses for your time off from work is to reconnect with friends and family. This is particularly important when you have been suffering from burnout, as this often leaves you feeling distanced from your loved ones. With that said, making a conscious effort to catch up with friends and family can be a great way of lessening this distance and getting you back on track.
Improve your home space
Another enjoyable and productive hobby is home improvement. These kinds of projects are the perfect way to spend your downtime as not only will they give you something to work towards, but you will also end up with an improved home space at the end of it! From that point on, any time you spend some time in that space you will be hit with a profound sense of satisfaction at what you were able to accomplish.
Get some rest
Regardless of how you choose to spend your time off, however, one of the most important things to ensure you do when taking some time off is to actually get some rest — particularly if you have been feeling burned out.
This might be catching up on sleep or it might simply be trying to do as little activity as possible for a few days. Make a conscious effort to go to bed earlier and to stay in bed a little later when morning rolls around. If you are having trouble falling asleep, use natural sleep aids such as melatonin or chamomile to help ease you into a deep sleep.
Sleep is reparative, so make sure you get plenty of it!