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Signs of stress, dehydration and job burnout, and what to do about it.
Our bodies are magical, doing so many millions of things at once, just to support us! It’s constantly looking out for our health, so it’s nice of us to keep our eyes peeled so that we can listen to our system.
Dehydration
Nothing satisfies thirst better than a tall glass of cold water.
During the summer you may be more aware of drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Staying well hydrated when it's hot is definitely a must; however, hydration is important to your health year round.
Dehydration is when you lose more fluid than you take in. Some of the signs of dehydration are thirst, dry lips and dry mouth, flushed skin, headache, dizziness and fainting, dark yellow, strong smelling urine, and low blood pressure and an increased heart rate.
To meet your fluid needs throughout the day, choose water most often. Remember that other fluids like milk, coffee, tea and juice also count towards your daily fluid intake. Try to avoid soft drinks and limit drinks with caffeine to three cups per day. Remember to drink even more fluids when you are active and during hot weather.
Stress
Stress is a fact of daily life and is the result of both the good and bad things that happen. Too much stress can cause serious health concerns, but there are many ways of dealing with stress that can reduce your risk.
Stress can come from major events in life such as getting married or changing jobs, or from minor daily incidents, such as job pressures or holiday planning. The things that cause you stress may not be a problem for someone else.
Signs that you are over-stressed may include feelings of irritability, sadness or guilt, changes in sleep patterns, changes in weight or appetite, difficulty in concentrating or making decisions, negative thinking, loss of interest, enjoyment or energy in something you used to enjoy, and restlessness
Stress can be managed by identifying your problems, working on solutions, talking about your problems, reducing tensions, learning about stress management, taking your mind off your problems, and trying not to be too hard on yourself.
Job Burnout
Job burnout is a pressing and ongoing concern. The World Health Organization classifies job burnout as an “occupational phenomenon,” a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress.”
To be effective, burnout prevention efforts in the workplace require interventions at the organizational level. First steps to coping with job burnout include assessing your personal risk for burnout, reducing your risk for burnout, building a personalized stress management plan, and planning for resilience.
Most individuals facing burnout remain at work, with overachievers at higher risk for stress-induced professional exhaustion. A workplace response includes taking proactive steps to help prevent job-related burnout and putting in place the needed supports for employees and colleagues to succeed while recovering from burnout.
The above information is courtesy of Health Canada.
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