For those of us prone to burnout it’s easy to feel alone in the world. Key to a safe, permanent and fast recovery is identifying and accepting the support we already have in our lives and if necessary, finding new sources of support.
Generally, when we say ‘support’ we are talking about social support; the perception (and reality) that one is cared for, is part of a supportive social network, and has assistance available from other people.
But wait, there’s more.
In fact, there’s four types of support.
- Emotional
- Tangible
- Informational
- Companionship
Grab a sheet of paper. The first step to experiencing support (and feeling less alone) is to identify what’s already there for you. Keeping the four types of support in mind, jot down the answers to these questions:
- What kinds of support do I already have?
- What kinds of support do I need?
- How will I ask for/get that support?
- The list of people I can ask for support from includes:
- Family
- Friends
- Health care practitioners
- Co-workers
For many, recognizing and identifying existing support is crucial to an effective recovery from burnout.
Next time I’ll talk a bit more about each type of support and the specific roadblocks that those of us prone to burnout (perfectionists, Type A and Highly Sensitive People) encounter.
In the meantime, start to note the areas in your life where you are receiving or rejecting the support already there.