TikTok hacks to combat feelings of burnout and anxiety

Virgin Radio

19 May 2022, 10:01

Credit: Getty

At some point in your life, you have probably experienced burnout without knowing what it is.

Burnout is the name given to the physical, mental and emotional affect that prolonged stress- often caused by work-related issues or other aspects of your life- has on the body.

It often happens when you feel overwhelmed and it can manifest in many different ways, such as headaches, muscle pain, lowered immune system or changes in appetite or sleeping habits.

Burnout can also have emotional symptoms such as feelings of extreme anxiety, loss of motivation and isolating yourself from others.

It can be quite a serious thing that, if left untreated, can lead to other mental and physical issues- so it is important to tackle when you notice it.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to end, marketing agency Absolute Digital Media have conducted some research to find the best TikTok hacks that will help feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed that often come with burnout.

1. Salt on your tongue

It may sound unpleasant, and that’s because it’s meant to be.

When you have lots of thoughts swirling around in your head, it can be very hard to focus or think of something else.

One trick to direct your mind elsewhere, is to put a teaspoon of salt on your tongue. When feelings of anxiety or stress come on, this will help redirect your attention to something else so that you can find clarity.

Although, you might want to limit the amount of times you do this as eating too much salt is not the nicest thing for your health.

2. Hold ice in your hands

Another way you can drag yourself out of spiralling thoughts of self-doubt or anxiety when it comes to burnout is to hold ice in your hands.

Much like the salt trick, the coldness of the ice will force your brain to focus on something else and leave those thoughts behind.

All you need to do is get a handful of ice and roll it around in your palms, putting your hands under warm water if they start to get uncomfortable.

3. Invest in a sensory ring

The place where burnout-related anxiety is most prevalent seems to be in the work place, and it’s not always practical to carry around some salt or a bag of ice in the office for the times you feel overwhelmed.

A good solution to this is investing in a sensory ring.

The device, which can be carried around on the go, is specially made for people who experience anxiety. You simply place the ring on the tip of your finger, and it’s designed to apply pressure on your nerves to promote stimulation and, again, turn your focus elsewhere for a moment.

Other tips

These tricks are quick fixes to overwhelming thoughts and feelings when it comes to burnout, but it is important to look at the root cause to prevent them from happening again.

Absolute Digital Media suggests that we must change how we approach work and our lifestyle to really make a difference.

The tips they have are:

  • Work With purpose – Set yourself a goal when it comes to your career and work towards it. Don’t just work for a living.

  • Acts Of kindness - Small gestures to help out people around you, whether a colleague or client, give your actions more meaning and make yourself feel good.

  • Allow breaks - Acknowledge when you're starting to feel stressed and give yourself some time to take a break. Practise deep breathing, meditation or gentle exercise to bring yourself out of the stressful moment.

For more hacks on productivity and preventing burnout, check out our article on the 'four quarters' hack for time management.

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