STOP - you’re being neurotic! How can we go about embracing the neurotic lifestyle? The word “neurotic” can conjure images of a certain type of psychotherapy: Woody Allen types splayed out on long divans, with Freudian therapists sitting coolly behind them, asking vague questions about Oedipal complexes. Psychology’s come a…
Stop - you’re being neurotic! How do we go about embracing the inner neurotic? Shouldn't we try to suppress it? The word “neurotic” makes me smile - it conjures up either the Woody Allen character in the above image (Alvy Singer in Annie Hall), Monica from Friends, George from Seinfield…
Joy, rest, do less and nourish - how burnout and kindness go together: My final thoughts about recovery from burnout! Joy and Rest - Sound Advice from a Fatigue Specialist https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/21/work-needs-rest-and-rest-takes-work-fatigue-specialist-vincent-deary-on-coping-with-life In his book How We Break: Navigating the Wear and Tear of Living, Vincent Deary professor of psychology at…
This blog looks at burnout at work, especially in the caring professions. We cannot recover from burnout without support. In the workplace, it is essential to examine external solutions: more family friendly flexible working practices, adequate breaks etc But such solutions may seem unrealistic - many of us are employed…
I CAN'T relax! Why is recovery from burnout so difficult? “Why don’t you just take a break? Just relax!” One of the most difficult aspects of burnout is the double bind: People describe two opposites: a feeling of exhaustion accompanied by a nervy compulsion to go on regardless. Burnout involves…
Roots in our childhood? Are there links between personality and burnout? We tend to presume that a stressful job, and challenging life events lead to burnout - and this is absolutely true but are there also internal causes of burnout? Factors that we may not be aware of, that make…
Continuing on from my previous blogs, here are some tools and strategies for burnout recovery. The road to recovery is slightly different for each one of us - what works for you, might not necessarily work for me, so it is sometimes a matter of trying a few things, doing…
Continuing this series of blogs about burnout, this is the first of a short series that look at recovery from burnout. In previous blogs I have talked about the research carried out and excellent book written by Emily and Ameila Nagoski: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. They…
Stress and Stressors This is the third in a series of blogs about burnout. I am a great fan of the work of the Nagoski sisters, Emily and Amelia - see links below. Contrary to what many people say, self-care isn't the answer - or at least, is only a…
The Burnout Gauge What are the warning signs of burnout ? Many of us are bad at recognising when our minds and bodies are overloaded and trying their best to get us to STOP! Burnout is a gradual process. It doesn't happen overnight, it creeps up on us. The signs…
The Origins The term burnout is used a lot these days, but what IS burnout? Who is at risk and what can we do to prevent it? Herbert Freudenberger in the 1970s was one of the founders of the concept. It was originally applied only to the workplace but has…
Following on from my previous blog, read what Kristen Neff, one of our most prominent researchers in the field has to say about the two sides of fierce self-compassion. She uses the symbol of yin and yang to describe it. Yin and yang refers to a concept originating in ancient…