A survey conducted by Indeed on 1 500 U.S. workers found that 52% of the survey respondents were experiencing burnout in 2021. The same survey found that 53% of Millennials were already burned out pre-pandemic, and this number rose to 59% post-covid.
A separate finding from Gallup revealed that employees who are experiencing burnout are 63% more likely to take a sick day. What’s more, research has found that depression can cost the U.S economy $51 billion in absenteeism and lost productivity alone (1).
It’s clear that burnout is an issue that needs to be addressed, but where to start? Well, according to a former senior working member of the royal family, putting yourself first could be the answer to dealing with burnout.
Prince Harry: Using Self-Care to Stop Burnout
BetterUp is a coaching and mental health company, of which Prince Harry is the chief impact officer. For their Inner Work Day, Prince Harry joined forces with Serena Williams to discuss the ins and outs of self-care.
The Duke of Sussex, 37, admits that he does “experience burnout” from time to time. During these times, it’s important for him to focus on taking care of himself and his needs,
“The self-care is the first thing that drops away. I’m happy to admit that—as a husband, as a dad,” he said.
Prince Harry’s self-care tips
If you’re looking to reduce your risk of burnout, then here are some self-care tips from the Duke of Sussex himself.
Give yourself 30 minutes
Taking some time out of your day can be exactly what you need to get through the day, and that’s why Prince Harry is so adamant about giving himself at least 30, ideally 45 minutes every day.
“One of the kids has gone to school. The other one’s taking a nap. There’s a break in our program,” he said.
“It’s like, right, it’s either for a workout, take the dog for a walk, get out in nature, maybe meditate.”
Do the inner work
“Mental fitness is the pinnacle, it’s what you’re aiming for, and the road towards that is… it can be really bumpy.
It’s called inner work for a reason, and I think that immediately might put some people off, going, ‘More work?’ It’s like, ‘Why?’ But the outer work becomes so much easier once you get to grips with the inner work.” – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
While both Prince Harry has made tremendous strides when it comes to his mental health journey, he does acknowledge that the journey will always be a work in progress,
“I don’t have it sorted, Serena [Williams] doesn’t have it sorted, none of us do…Life is about discovery.”
Want to know more?
Adopting self-care habits is a great way to support your mental health, and you might want to include vitamin C in this. In fact, it appears that in addition to being a great immune booster, vitamin C could also offer a mood boost.
