In these ‘Raw bite’ episodes of my podcast, I’ll be selecting my favorite moments from previous episodes of Real & Raw.

It's almost impossible for anyone to work every minute of every day without eventually burning out. People often sacrifice their lunch breaks in order to be as productive as possible or they even go into the office at the weekends when they're supposed to be out of office and take those days off for themselves. Eventually, in one way or another, it takes toll on them.

It is often related with struggling to cope with stress at a workplace that may place people at high risk of burnout which then leaves them feeling exhausted, empty, and unable to cope with the demands of life and work. When you experience burn out,  you feel more drained, your motivation is killed and it makes you feel like losing interest in your work. And those are just a few of many signs of prolonged response to works stress.

"It happened quite gradually over a few months. I became too busy for a lunch break. I was working long hours and I started to go into the office at the weekends." - says Vix Anderton. I only started to appreciate that there might be something wrong when I was working with a coach, we had a three hour in-person session and she asked me how stressed I thought I was. I paused and I thought and I was like "I don't know, maybe like four or five out of ten". And she looked at me and said "Vix, you've been in tears for this entire session, you might want to reconsider your answer." It blew my mind. Crying in the toilets and having panic attacks at work every day isn't normal.

Taking breaks has a big impact on your ability to deal with work and life stress.  It's important to find ways to cope with your work tasks and especially when it comes to finding a work-life balance so that it doesn't interfere with your personal life. Prioritizing self-care and scheduling time for yourself is one of the most crucial strategies to fighting burn out. Don't stay silent. You can also reach out to someone if you’re experiencing or approaching burnout. It's a lonely place to be, but you don't have to go through it alone!

Do you feel depressed as a result of work-related stress? How do you cope with it? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us.