What is emotional burnout and how can sports help to cope with it?

Emotional burnout is a disease in which a person loses working capacity and interest in life. One of the most effective methods of prevention and treatment of burnout is sports.

In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized burnout as a full-fledged disease and included it in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases. The development of this disease in each case individually.

Sport is one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to prevent and get rid of this problem.

Symptoms of emotional burnout

1. The problem begins with the gradual accumulation of stress in the workplace. A person cannot concentrate on his duties, is constantly nervous and depressed. No matter how much he rests, he feels permanently tired. His appetite decreases, his head hurts, and his productivity drops.
2. In people who do not work, burnout can occur under the influence of household factors. For example, a young mother raises two children alone, or a son takes care of an elderly paralyzed father for a long time.

Burnout occurs at the moment when the burden of responsibility becomes unbearable for a person, and you want to quit everything, regardless of the consequences.

The link between activity and productivity

In 2018, Japanese researchers found:

1. The more time an employee spends in a sitting position, the lower his involvement in the work process.
2. The lack of movement negatively affects the neuroplasticity of the brain.
3. Memory fails a person. He loses the ability to think outside the box and find creative solutions.

To restore neuroplasticity, it is necessary to revise the daily routine and provide the body with quality rest. It is advisable to discuss the problem with a psychotherapist or psychologist. Add regular exercise to your schedule.

Ideally, these should be not only exercises for endurance and strength, but also games where you need to apply tactics and coordination.

What physical activity will bring back a good mood?

• During exercise, endorphins are released in the human body, that is, hormones of joy. The main condition for their development is the level of load above the average.
• In order for the body to begin to synthesize substances that play the role of encouragement, it is important to make it tense up. People without athletic training can start with CrossFit or long-distance running. With fatigue comes a sense of satisfaction.

What psychological tricks do professional athletes have?

Athletes are prone to burnout no less than professionals engaged in mental work. Three effective techniques can be borrowed from athletes to normalize their psychophysical state.

1. Set yourself short-term goals that are easy to achieve  – Burnout is often caused by the lack of tangible results from daily activities. The person loses self-confidence. To get it back, you need to successfully complete several tasks and feel satisfied. The brain will understand that it has embarked on the right path and that there are only victories ahead. A person will be motivated for long-term achievements.
2. Control Consistent Emotions Train yourself to analyze your feelings at every stage of the day. So you wake up, get ready for work or other business, start doing tasks, take a break … In each of these phases, ask yourself the question: how do you feel? What worries you? What do you like and what don’t you like? Why are you doubting yourself? What would you like to change in the environment right here and right now? The better you train the power of internal control, the easier it will be for you to cope with background stress and negative thoughts.
3. Let yourself rest – Back in Ancient Greece, athletes understood: the longer the period of stress leading to emotional burnout, the longer the rest should be. If you have to work for wear, organize yourself a vacation immediately after you reach a global goal. Completely disconnect from the usual worries and strive for maximum relaxation.

You can ask a psychologist to recommend individual methods for preventing burnout, taking into account the characteristics of your lifestyle and psyche.