6 tips to deal with sleep health issues and burnout

Burnout, stress and insomnia are words that we hear too often. With studies showing more than 20 per cent of employees worldwide feel burnt out, how can we look after ourselves better? How can we wake up feeling rested and rejuvenated?

We brought together six experts from Singapore and Hong Kong to delve into these topics and give us little steps to help us live our lives to the fullest. Here are six lessons on burnout and sleep health.

1. Burnout is not a ‘work thing’ but a ‘life thing’.

James Lim, founder of Emmaus Strategies, and a social worker

James has experienced burnout four times, including once while he was advocating against burnout. He attributes burnout to a mix of factors such as family, work and personal mental health struggles, so he believes burnout is not a “work thing” but a “life thing”. Burnout is not something you can shake or sleep off; deep and intentional work is required. To overcome burnout, he says that the symptoms must first be identified.

2. Take ownership of your lifestyle

Sandra Marichal, founder of Up2degrees, explorer and adventurer

Sandra knows what it’s like being in stressful positions – having been on two trips to Antarctica, working as the marketing insights manager Asia-Pacific at Facebook, starting a movement #Up2Degrees and getting a law changed within one year. And if all that wasn’t enough, she’s about to sail around the world for a year. To her, you have the power to change whatever situation you are in. Firstly, acknowledge that something is wrong. Accept the pain, but respect your mind and body. A simple exercise is to feel your fingers and toes at least once a day to be more conscious of your own body.