Feeling drained? Having trouble concentrating? Shorter temper or more emotional than usual? These are some of the symptoms that may indicate burnout-related issues. Prolonged stress can eventually lead to burnout.

Stress in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It definitely serves a purpose. It can make you more focused and alert. Think of taking an exam, giving a presentation, or going into a job interview. Almost everyone feels some level of tension in those moments, and that stress helps us stay sharp—allowing us to perform better, as long as the pressure doesn’t become too overwhelming.

Too much prolonged stress, however, can lead to physical and mental complaints—and eventually result in burnout.

Here are 5 tips to help you move from burnout toward happiness at work.

Don’t try to return to the ‘you’ from before your burnout.

Burnout often results from a combination of external pressures and the way you handle things—how you think, act, and respond. If you don’t make changes to your habits and patterns, the risk of a second burnout within five years is significant. Take time to reflect on what led to your burnout and what you can adjust to prevent it from happening again. Maybe you need to say ‘no’ more often, take real breaks more regularly, ask for help more easily, or perhaps pick up a hobby that truly gives you energy.

Reflect: Are you actually doing work that aligns with your talents?

Sometimes you’ve been pushing yourself for a while, doing work that doesn’t truly match your talents. You might be capable of it, but if it doesn’t align with who you are at your core, it can drain your energy. When this mismatch dominates your work, it can lead to exhaustion. If, on top of that, you’re also dealing with major life events—like becoming a caregiver, becoming a parent, going through a divorce, or moving house—your emotional “bucket” can eventually overflow.
Taking the time to explore what kind of work truly fits your talents, and actively seeking that out, can help prevent a second burnout and lead you back to happiness at work.

Be kind to yourself.

Many people who experience burnout are highly self-critical and perfectionistic. Accept that you are human, and that means making mistakes, just like everyone else. Striving for perfection only puts unnecessary pressure on your performance. Besides, perfection is an illusion, things can always be improved. When you can accept that “good is good enough,” you’re already making great progress.

Learn to truly relax and take breaks—this allows your brain to reset.

More than ever, we’re bombarded with information. Even during our breaks, we’re often scrolling through social media, still processing input. But our brains aren’t built for this constant flow. If we don’t give our minds enough downtime during the day, all that information has to be processed at night—often leaving us feeling tired when we wake up.
So, put your phone away a bit earlier (and don’t grab it first thing in the morning), take micro-breaks by staring out the window, going for a short walk, or petting the cat. These small pauses help your brain reset and recharge.

Do one thing at a time.

We’re often juggling multiple things at once. You might be writing something when a new email pops up and you go ahead and read it right away. What you’re actually doing is switch-tasking, because true multitasking isn’t possible. It only works with automatic activities, like walking and having a conversation. You can’t read and have a conversation at the same time.
Switch-tasking pulls your attention away from one task and forces your brain to refocus on another. Getting back into the flow of the first task can take up to fifteen minutes—just to remember, “Where was I again?” So not only does it break your focus, it also costs extra time.
A helpful tip: turn off notifications for messages, emails, and apps like WhatsApp. That way, you create space for deeper focus and more efficient work.

Of course, there are many more ways to recover from burnout and increase your happiness at work. At Dynamisch Bureau, we have several coaches who specialize in burnout recovery and are here to support you. Looking to rediscover joy in your work? Dynamisch Bureau is here to help you every step of the way.