Had Enough

​I can’t remember where this came from.  I know I liked it.
“Life is tough but we do what we can to avoid burnout. If you’re now facing it, examine the cause list below to see what factors may be contributing to it. Take one proactive step this week from the cures list, to take better care of yourself.
Allostatic Load.  This term describes the wear and tear on our body from chronic stress. Our bodies have limits. Prolonged stress causes sustained high levels of the stress hormone cortisol which, along with an overabundance of other neurotransmitters and hormones, can cause heart problems, weight gain, impaired immunity, decreased memory and diminished brain functioning.
Power Stress.  Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee coined this phrase. When demands get so high and are not managed, people risk becoming trapped in the “Sacrifice Syndrome”. Sometimes people feel so overly responsible for the success of an organization and get caught in a vicious cycle.
Continuous Partial Attention.  Linda Stone, author and consultant, developed this phrase to describe the mental trap easily fallen into when people constantly scan the surroundings to look for the best opportunities. It happens when people “skim,” and only partially pay attention. This leads to failing to focus on the most important tasks, and then rushing to complete them.
Multitasking.  “Many have convinced themselves multitasking leads to greater productivity.  However, researchers have shown that when we try to process two mental tasks at once, our mental capacity can drop from that of a Harvard MBA to that of an eight-year-old. It can reduce our mental capacities as if we missed a night’s sleep or smoked pot (Rock, 2009, pp. 34–36). Multitasking can also diminish long-term memory (Foerde et al., 2006).  College students who multitasked with their laptops scored lower on tests than did students who didn’t multitask. (Sana et al., 2013).”   Research shows that multitasking can add up to a 40% loss of productivity in a day (called task switch cost).”
I see it heaps.  Problems are emphasised and I think, “what is your solution?”  I generally recognise a problem.  It is answers that mean more to me.  The article lists some solutions.
“Exercise.  Exercise benefits our body and brains as well. When we exercise, it causes our brains to release a protein called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which has been called Miracle-Gro for the brain. It encourages new neuronal growth and protects brain cells.
Statio.  Statio is the moment when we pause from one task before going to the next. It allows us to break our hurry, obtain closure, and prepare for what comes next. Those who practice this can turn down their body’s fight-flight system (the sympathetic nervous system) and engage the rest and digest system (parasympathetic system).
Sleep.  The brain is actually very active during sleep and never really shuts down.  It is only truly at rest during non-REM sleep, which accounts for only 20 percent of our normal sleep cycle. During the other 80 percent, sleep helps the brain encode, strengthen, stabilize, and consolidate our memories. Our brain replays what we have learned during the day (Medina, 2009, p. 164). Sleep plays an important role in learning.”
Get off the Grid.  Our smart phones can keep us on high alert and in stress mode. A 24-hour period off the grid leads to greater peace.  Getting off the grid helps disengage the mind and slow the internal pace.”
Good stuff.  Down to earth but useful.