Silence: Your Secret Weapon against Sudden Burnout

How to embrace quietness as your early warning system for mental health

Photo by nikko macaspac

Burnout strikes without warning.

Or at least it seems that way. But actually, burnout builds steadily over time, and we just don’t notice it. Fortunately, there’s a tool you can use to spot it earlier — your ability to tolerate silence.

By adding some quietness into your day, you will detect the early signs of burnout and can take action before it’s too late.

Why Silence Works as a Barometer

It feels uncomfortable sitting in silence.

Most people avoid it like the plague. They pepper their days with distractions to avoid being alone with their thoughts. Perhaps some of these examples will feel familiar to you:

• Listening to music while driving.
• Watching Netflix while cooking.
• Falling asleep to soothing music.
• Having the TV on in the background while working.
• Calling friends when you are walking or driving.

We avoid silence because it exposes us to our true feelings. But we can learn to use this to our advantage. By introducing periods of…