Stress /-management & burnout /-prevention

Stress and burnout – essential issues of our time

The changing world of work brings with it many advantages: e-mail and smartphones allow us to communicate around the world with virtually no time delay. Teams no longer have to sit in the same office to work well together and submitting forms that used to take weeks by post can now be done in seconds via an online platform.
Despite all the advantages, however, the dangers of the modern working world are becoming increasingly apparent: work-related stress, chronic stress and burnout are on the rise. We are finding it increasingly difficult to switch off and the demands on us and our availability continue to rise.

In view of these developments, counter-currents are also gaining in importance: self-care, meditation and relaxation techniques are no longer a niche segment, but are considered cornerstones of a “healthy existence”. But can yoga, breathing exercises and the like really eliminate stress? Certainly not alone.

“Stress” is much more complex than that and to present it merely as the conceptual counterpart to relaxation is simplistic. Likewise, having a burnout does not mean “just needing a vacation”. In this sense, the often well-intentioned advice to “just relax more” is usually not very helpful. Sport and relaxation techniques are indeed important components in dealing with the demands of everyday life in a healthy way. At least as important, however, are training our ability to set boundaries, questioning our values, priorities and convictions and also (re)discovering the joy of serenity.

I answer some questions on the topics of stress and burnout in the following FAQs on stress. You can find more information on this topic in my blog.