1.
The number of people reporting symptoms of extreme physical, mental and emotional stress, also known as burnout, is increasing year on year. Why are so many of us finding it difficult to unwind and what can we do about it?
The fast-paced and constantly-connected nature of modern life can make it difficult for us to switch (1) _____ and relax and, unfortunately, some people just can’t.
2.
If you never take any time to clear your head and (2) _____ your batteries, you can get sucked into a dangerous cycle of exhaustion and anxiety.
3.
Work becomes such a dominant part of your life that you just can’t imagine what you would do if you had to take some of your annual (3) _____, so you don’t.
4.
The first step to take when you want to break the cycle and regain a more normal work–life balance is to recognize that you have a problem and to talk to people you can trust about it. Secondly, try to undo the damage by managing your stress levels, for example by setting aside a few days when you can just (4) _____ from it all, put your feet up and relax.
5.
Then you just need to sustain those positive habits over a longer period of time. You could do this by setting aside a certain amount of time every day, perhaps an hour at first and then longer, in which you spend (5) _____ doing things that make you feel good. Once you’ve been doing that for a while, you may want to take a holiday. It doesn’t really matter where you go, the change of scene will do you a lot of good.
