lockdown: recognising burnout at home

All around Australia, people are currently stuck in their homes. Lockdown has proven to be an effective method of combatting COVID-19 thus far, but that doesn't make it any easier for people to cope with. On an international scale, lockdowns and self-isolation have become the norm the past year. Despite this massive change to our lives, we continue to strive to overcome this barrier to normal life, by attempting to function as normal within this new realm of reality.

Last year, metropolitan Melbourne was in lockdown for 111 days. Three months of staying at home, not visiting friends or family, limiting time outside to 2 hours, and existing within a 5km radius of your home. It was hard, to say the least. The impact it had on mental health was overwhelming. Throughout the state, people reported experiencing more states of depression and anxiety, linked to financial stress, an inability to socialise properly, and fears regarding the pandemic.

As Melbourne enters into Lockdown 6.0, and Sydney faces lockdown at least until the end of August, I wanted to take a moment to dive into what effect these lockdowns can have on mental health. Most people strive to continue to function normally, trying to maintain routines of exercise, healthy living, and productive working hours. But as time progresses, it can be hard to draw the line between time you have to yourself, and time you are working.

For example, you may work at your desk between the hours of 9 to 5 as you normally would, but when you're at home those hours can stretch and become overwhelming as it feels like you cannot escape your work. You carry your phone around with you in the house, and you answer emails and phone calls in time that should be spent relaxing and recovering from working. Another situation people are certainly familiar with is the distractions at home that can prevent productivity, which can increase the stress associated with work that needs to be completed. In both of these situations, working from home is incredibly difficult. I am sure that anyone who has worked at home during a lockdown has experienced one or even both of these situations.

In many cases, this can lead to a burnout. A burnout is basically a state of exhaustion that encompasses mental, physical, and emotional elements, as a result of prolonged stress. Given that we are all currently experiencing a great deal of stress, the term burnout has become far more common in recent months.

There are some behaviours that can signal a burnout when working and staying at home during a lockdown, such as:

• Persistent feelings of anxiety and depression

• Negative thinking regarding yourself, life in general, and the future

• Isolating from others

• Inability to focus or concentrate

• Lack of motivation or drive to complete tasks, even basic ones

• Exhaustion that is present all the time

• Tasks feel either completely boring and dull, or you are overwhelmed by everything

• Your home no longer feels safe or comforting, because you feel stressed all the time

If you're experiencing any of these feelings, you may be on the road to a burnout. I want to emphasise here that you are not alone. In June, I experienced a burnout of my own that culminated in a mental breakdown, and as a result I needed to take two weeks off work just to recover myself. I ignored the signs of my burnout, and it had a profound impact on my ability to function.

There are ways to get help if you are experiencing a burnout at home, and during lockdown I believe it is more important than ever to know that there are resources and people who can help you in these moments. While seeking help is often difficult, here are some recommendations to help you along the way:

1. Talking to your friends and family is one of the best ways to begin asking for help. While it can be difficult asking for assistance from those closest to you, bear in mind that they are the ones who know you best, and they love you. If nothing else, they will hear you out and give you space to express your emotions.

2. Speak to your GP. If it feels comfortable, talking to a medical professional that you have experience with before can be extremely helpful. For me, talking to my GP was the first step to seeking further help with my mental health. They are equipped with an array of experience and resources that will help you, and they can offer you some sound advice on coping with situations such as burnout.

3. Speak to a therapist or psychologist. There is a huge network of trained mental health professionals in Australia that can assist you during periods of distress. If you are unsure how to get in touch with a therapist or psychologist, your GP will be able to refer you to one, or you can search online. If you need some resources to get you started, visit the About section for a list of helpful organisations.

4. Don't be afraid to take time off when you're working from home. It can be daunting to approach your workplace and ask for time off, especially during a lockdown since you're out of the office already, but your mental health should always come first. Being able to wake up in your own home, without feeling the pressure of needing to be productive or complete tasks, is magical, and can help you feel refreshed.

Please bear in mind that these are only a few recommendations, but they are the ones I feel helped me most during my time of crisis, and I wanted to share them with you. If you are experiencing burnout during lockdown, please know that you are loved, and you deserve help during times when your mental health isn't great. You are worthy of care, especially during this time where stress is high and life is uncertain.

I hope these ramblings provided some insight to what burnout looks like during lockdown, and that if you are struggling, you found something helpful here.

Remember, you are worthy of love, care, and help.

Love,

Ella.