Are you still enjoying the positive effects of a relaxing vacation or is stress already hitting you again? After an extended vacation, there is often another pile of work waiting for us. Which means that stress is also lurking again.
It is important to include sufficient recovery moments to keep this stress under control. In fact, prolonged exposure to stress without sufficient recovery moments can lead to burnout, a serious condition that is becoming increasingly common in our society. In 2022, as many as 28.5% of Belgian workers were at risk of burnout(Securex).
From stress to burnout
Stress is our body's natural response to challenging situations. It is often triggered when we experience something new or unexpected that we have little control over or when we feel threatened. Short-term stress can help us react quickly, be sharp and solve problems. It is a survival mechanism that allows us to cope with challenges. Does this stress persist? Then various health problems can occur.
When stress persists and you don't take enough recovery moments to get back to rest, it can lead to overstrain and even burnout. In burnout, the hormones of your stress system are completely disrupted, leaving you emotionally, mentally and physically burned out. This exhaustion makes daily activities difficult, your motivation is often lost and social contact is also too exhausting.
The bow cannot always be tight
To counteract stress and prolonged exposure to stress, it is very important to include sufficient recovery moments. You do this by consciously relaxing and recovering from the physical and mental strain of stress. When you experience stress, your body produces stress hormones. After a stressful situation, it is important that you bring these hormones back to normal. Recovery moments help with this. These can be short breaks throughout the day, but you can also take time to relax in the evening and on weekends. In addition to these shorter periods, it is also important that you occasionally take a longer period to recover, such as a longer vacation of two to three weeks.
How do you recognize stress signals?
Stress manifests itself in a variety of ways. For example, you may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, stomach upset, trouble sleeping or a high heart rate. In addition, stress can also affect your emotional reactions. As a result, you may be much more irritable, display intense emotions, be irritable more quickly or suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, among other things. Finally, stress can also manifest itself cognitively. This can make it harder to concentrate or take in information more poorly. This is often accompanied by declining motivation.
When these symptoms of tension persist for about 3 months, we speak of overstrain. When these symptoms last longer than 6 months, we speak of burnout. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the signals of stress in yourself. These signals let you know that it is time to hit the pause button. Map out for yourself how you react to stress in different situations, but also how you can regain your composure. This way your stress will stay in balance.
Is the stress level also high among your colleagues or those around you? Don't forget to check in with each other from time to time. This can be as simple as asking how someone is doing. You can also learn to manage stress together as a team by taking shared breaks, taking a short walk, going for a coffee together ... you name it! That's how you take care of yourself and each other.
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