I've been showing signs of burnout/high stress for at least several months, but probably much longer since I started working at current company 1.5 years ago. I finally have a referral to see a workplace psychologist, but to maximise effectiveness of this I need to understand my problems better and I'm not sure where to start. I've started collecting notes on my feelings and difficulties at work but this feels quite arbitrary, so I'm interested in hearing others' experiences. Ideally I'd be looking for something like a systematic process to examine different areas of my work life, common stressors and how they interrelate, or how to methodically identify cause and effect. Cheers.
First take all negative questions off the table. Instead of thinking in terms of ”Why am I sad?” think in positive terms ”What makes me happy?”.
Second set some goals. Write these down on paper to make them real. If you are married share them with your spouse. Know what you want with confidence.
Third do cardio. This year I have increased my VO2Max from 40 to 56. Now I can’t sleep more than 6 hours a day unless people bore me into a nap and work stress has completely evaporated without changing anything about the work.
Fourth identify your physical health and mental concerns. This isn’t about finding problems at work. It’s about identifying your unfulfilled needs.
Last year I was directing a help desk of a large mission critical organization with crippled infrastructure and incompetent subordinate management. My top technicians and I were all showing severe work related mental health problems. Just leaving the job my blood pressure instantly dropped 40 points. I was away from family and I wasn’t exercising. I was too focused upon solving the endless sea of broken problems that I wasn’t taking care of myself. I could see it in other people, and thus directed my staff to seek appropriate mental health assistance, but I wasn’t taking care of myself.