Overwork
- mathieuderossi2
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 26
Hello Palo's Approach to Managing Burnout
Identify ineffective solution attempts
Exploring underlying emotions
Implement therapeutic tasks
Introduction
Burnout, or mental and physical exhaustion, is an increasingly common reality in today's professional and personal world. It goes beyond simple temporary stress, manifesting itself in chronic fatigue and a feeling of being overwhelmed. In this state, it becomes difficult to concentrate, stay motivated or effectively manage daily tasks. Burnout, if not addressed, can turn into a state of extreme exhaustion called burnout, which often requires a long recovery process. In this article, we will explore how Hello Palo, through Palo Alto Brief Therapy, helps individuals understand and overcome burnout for a more balanced and serene daily life.
Understanding Overwork and Its Symptoms
Overwork occurs when the demands of our environment exceed our physical and mental capacity to recover. By pushing ourselves too hard without adequate rest, our bodies and minds eventually become exhausted, leading to repercussions both personally and professionally.
The main symptoms of overwork include:
Persistent fatigue : Even after a night's sleep, the feeling of fatigue persists.
Decreased motivation : tasks that are usually stimulating seem insurmountable or uninteresting.
Difficulty concentrating : Concentration becomes difficult, affecting memory and efficiency.
Increased irritability : heightened sensitivity to irritation and stress.
Isolation and social disconnection : a feeling of distance or withdrawal from others.
Physical signs : such as headaches, muscle aches, digestive problems, or increased tension in the body.
These symptoms vary in intensity but, if left untreated, can lead to even more severe exhaustion and require intensive follow-up.
The causes of daily overwork
Overwork is the result of a prolonged imbalance between the efforts made and the rest periods needed to maintain mental and physical balance. It can be caused by many factors:
Excessive workload : High job demands, tight deadlines, and ambitious goals can become overwhelming if the work pace is too intense.
Lack of rest and recovery : Skipping breaks, working late, or not allowing regular rest time directly contributes to mental fatigue.
Lack of social support : Feeling alone in your tasks can intensify the pressure. A lack of support, both at work and at home, can make it more difficult to manage the load.
Perfectionism and self-demand : People who aim for perfection or put high pressure on themselves to perform often experience greater mental overload.
Ineffective priority management : Not knowing how to delegate or prioritize tasks increases the daily workload.
These factors can build up to form a vicious cycle where exhaustion leads to behaviors that themselves make burnout worse, such as procrastination or the tendency to do everything yourself.
Hello Palo's Approach to Managing Burnout
Hello Palo offers a unique approach based on Palo-Alto Brief Therapy to help individuals identify and address the underlying causes of their burnout. This therapeutic method helps users better understand the behavioral patterns that perpetuate their fatigue and implement concrete solutions to overcome them.
1. Identify ineffective solution attempts
One of the tenets of Palo Alto therapy is understanding that sometimes the behaviors we use to “manage” our problem actually make it worse. For example, constantly putting off breaks or neglecting our personal needs may seem like practical solutions in the short term, but they reinforce fatigue in the long term. Hello Palo helps users become aware of these ineffective solution attempts and replace them with more constructive behaviors.
2. Explore underlying emotions
Burnout is often linked to emotions such as frustration, fear of inadequacy, or guilt about taking a break. Hello Palo encourages users to explore and express these emotions, providing a space for emotional release. This step helps to better understand the motivations behind burnout-related behaviors and transform them in a healthier way.
3. Set up therapeutic tasks
Therapeutic tasks are concrete exercises, proposed by Hello Palo, to experiment with new behaviors that help to get out of the cycle of overwork. These tasks are adapted to each situation and encourage the user to gradually test actions to lighten their mental load, such as prioritizing tasks or setting up regular breaks.
Examples of therapeutic tasks offered by Hello Palo
The therapeutic tasks proposed by Hello Palo are simple, but they can have a significant impact when practiced regularly. Here are some examples:
Emotions Logbook : Keeping a journal to record daily feelings helps identify moments of overwork, their triggers and their repercussions. This monitoring allows you to act preventively.
Say no to conserve energy : Politely declining non-essential tasks or additional requests helps you focus on what's important and avoid unnecessary overload.
Prioritize essential tasks : Classifying tasks by importance helps you better channel your energy and avoid getting distracted. Hello Palo offers exercises to learn how to prioritize effectively without aiming for perfection.
Reconnecting to enjoyable activities : Reconnecting with enjoyable activities outside of work can reduce stress and restore energy.
These exercises are tailored to each user, depending on their level of overwork and personal needs. They aim to introduce positive habits for gradual and lasting change.
Conclusion
Burnout is a warning sign that our lifestyle needs to be readjusted. Thanks to the Palo-Alto approach, Hello Palo helps users identify the thought and behavior patterns that fuel their fatigue. By proposing concrete and adapted tasks, Hello Palo offers a pragmatic and caring solution to regain a balance between personal and professional life. By integrating these new habits, everyone can prevent burnout and adopt a lifestyle that respects their limits while promoting sustainable well-being.
