Are you dealing with stress? Learn how to manage it!

In today’s world, it’s very common for school and work to intertwine with our personal lives. High demands at work and in school can often lead to long-term stress, which can escalate into burnout syndrome. How can you avoid these problems? And what is burnout syndrome, exactly?

Burnout syndrome is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a state resulting from prolonged work-related stress and is characterized by exhaustion, a decrease in motivation and work performance, and feelings of inadequacy. Other common symptoms include fatigue, loss of energy, pessimistic thinking, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, disappointment or loneliness, sleep disturbances, memory problems, a decline in creativity, loss of motivation, digestive and respiratory disorders, and more.

What contributes to long-term stress?

• Lack of control over your work (attendance, work duties, workload),
• High or uncertain work expectations,
• Working in a stressful or chaotic environment,
• Unfulfilling or monotonous work,
• Overly time-consuming work,
• Isolation or a poor working environment.

Stress arises as a reaction to potential threats, while burnout is a physical and mental state resulting from prolonged excessive stress. A certain amount of stress can be beneficial and help you perform better. However, chronic stress can lead to burnout, which results in complete exhaustion and an inability to perform the work you used to do on a daily basis.

Burnout syndrome can be prevented. Typically, a complete change in thinking and especially habits can help:

• Take some time off and rest,
• Try to change your approach to your work,
• Organize your priorities – sort out your sleep, use your free time efficiently, and set your boundaries,
• Incorporate regular exercise into your routine.

Remember that there are many people who can help you in your situation. It could be friends, colleagues, or simply talking to someone can make a difference. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to seek help from professionals. In any case, the most important thing is to take the first step: acknowledge what’s happening and take small steps that will lead to
significant changes.

If you’re interested in topics like work-life balance and well-being, we recommend checking out the current schedule of career workshops, where we also address these issues. We organize workshops every semester, and registration opens at the beginning of each semester.