Both physical and mental exhaustion can cause serious consequences, including depression and heart disease. Exhaustion can result from excessive physical demands and emotional conflicts. Health, work, relationships and overall well-being can be compromised if you don't find ways of avoiding exhaustion.
Step 1
Take time to delve into your subconscious beliefs that may be causing conflict. Psychological exhaustion often occurs after long bouts of indecision when faced with a major conflict. The American Mental Health Alliance recommends examining your beliefs and preconceived notions about life and your place in the world to come to a resolution. Extended mental exhaustion can lead to depression that can eventually begin to affect all areas of your life.
Step 2
Look for ways to take more control over the decisions that you can make on your job. The American Psychological Association cites research done by industrial psychologists that found higher rates of exhaustion among workers who had little latitude over decisions that affected their work. Especially if you are in a job with high demands, you should talk to your employer about ways in which you can have more input into how decisions are made.
Step 3
Pace yourself at work, in volunteer roles and at home. Burnout, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is a state of emotional exhaustion marked by constant negative attitudes toward the work and the people in your life. Take your breaks and walk away when you feel your emotions boiling over. Take a short walk when you feel the effects of anger when dealing with others to avoid exhaustion.
Step 4
Check various aspects of your lifestyle to identify areas that may be causing exhaustion. Make sure you get enough sleep at night, are eating properly and drinking enough water. Consider any medications you are taking that can cause fatigue. For example, the National Institutes of Health reports that stimulants, including caffeine, may actually worsen symptoms of exhaustion when they are stopped.
Tips and Warnings
- Check with your physician if you have tried various steps to alleviate the exhaustion. There are a number of diseases that cause exhaustion including thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes and infection. Tell your doctor if you feel symptoms of fatigue and exhaustion when taking certain medications, such as antihistamines, steroids, blood pressure pills or diuretics.
- Physical illness linked to emotional exhaustion and burnout includes heart disease, obesity and other eating disorders, diabetes and even some types of cancer. The immune system eventually becomes compromised, which can lead to other serious illnesses and even death.
