Burnout is a very modern problem that is normally the result of serious stress-related issues.
Vitamin D is one of the most essential nutrients for our health and wellbeing.
So, is there a link between the two? Can vitamin D help alleviate symptoms of burnout?
Keep reading to find out!
What is Burnout?
Burnout is described as a form of exhaustion as a result of constantly feeling “swamped” and overwhelmed.
It is often caused by excessive and prolonged emotional, physical, and mental stress, whether it be related to one's job or other lifestyle factors.
Burnout can occur when you’re feeling emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and mentally and physically unable to keep up with life’s constant demands.
Burnout isn’t an immediate occurrence and more often happens gradually. Due to this, signs and symptoms can be difficult to spot right away. However, the longer they go unaddressed, the worse they can become.
Many burnout symptoms can feel like symptoms of stress, such as:
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- No enthusiasm
- Feelings of negativity towards your job
- Inability to perform day-to-day tasks, including your job
It’s important to deal with burnout the moment you feel it begins affecting your life.
While the more simple answer to tackling burnout is time off, relaxation, and opening up to your friends, family, or a healthcare professional, there may be some other strategies to either help prevent burnout or help ease symptoms if they were to occur.
Let’s look at the benefits of vitamin D and if this key nutrient can be helpful for burnout!
The Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D, commonly known as the “sunshine” vitamin, is one of the key nutrients needed to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. This nutrient may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions.
Some of the main roles of vitamin D include:
- Promoting healthy bones and teeth
- Supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health
- Supporting lung function and cardiovascular health
- Regulating insulin levels
- Supporting immune, brain, and nervous system function
As you can see, vitamin D plays some pretty major roles in the body. So, can it help with burnout?
Vitamin D for Burnout: Does it Work?
In short, vitamin D doesn’t directly treat burnout per se. However, it may indirectly ease symptoms or act as more of a preventative measure.
For example, vitamin D supports immune, brain, and nervous system function. A lack of this vital nutrient may increase your susceptibility to infections and illnesses, as well as result in low mood and fatigue.
While vitamin D may not have a direct benefit for burnout, it is definitely an important part of a wide range of coping strategies and remedies that should be considered, either as preventative measures or to ease symptoms.
So, what other supplements and coping strategies could we pair vitamin D supplementation with to help alleviate symptoms?
Other Supplements for Burnout
- B-Vitamins
Stress associated with burnout may be helped with the use of B-vitamins. This is largely due to the impact this group of nutrients has on the brain, especially when it comes to energy and cell-to-cell signaling.
Lack of vitamin B12, for example, can increase your risk of developing a mood disorder such as depression, as B12 can help your brain produce more serotonin, the mood-boosting hormone.
As we have established, one of the most common symptoms of burnout is increased stress, potentially leading to other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
Thus, ensuring you are consuming an adequate intake of B-vitamin-rich foods or opting for supplementation may help prevent and ease burnout symptoms.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C is commonly known as being a key nutrient for supporting the immune system.
But, not only will vitamin C provide some benefits in keeping your immune system healthy and functioning, but it may also help your body manage better the physical and mental signs of stress when under pressure.
- Omega 3
Omega-3, more specifically DHA and EPA, plays a big role in mood regulation and anxiety.
High stress levels actually deplete the brain’s Omega-3 reserves as the body uses them for energy when the fight-or-flight response is triggered (the common hormonal response to stress).
Keeping your body topped up with these fatty acids will ensure you’re keeping your brain healthy and protected from any external stressors.
Coping Strategies for Burnout
Not only can we increase our intake of the key nutrients above, but we can also incorporate some coping strategies to help when life does begin to get a bit too much.
- Meditation & relaxation
Taking some time out from work or other stressful factors should be the first thing to consider. Taking time out is a key component of relieving stress.
Meditation has been linked to lower anxiety levels and improved regulation of the stress response, two benefits that can be directly linked to burnout.
- Getting a good night’s sleep
Sleep is the most underrated medicine we have access to. Getting a good night’s sleep may seem impossible when you’re going through a period of stress, but it is essential to manage the symptoms of burnout.
During sleep, our bodies are in a state of repairing, replenishing, and reviving. A poor night’s sleep can impair your cognitive function and lessen your ability to manage emotions, which is a recipe for disaster when trying to manage burnout.
- Walking and other low-impact physical activity
When you’re feeling stressed, it can be tempting to immerse yourself in the problem until you eventually solve it. However, stepping away from the problem can help you see things from a different perspective.
Going for a walk when stressed may help better your resilience and stress management, thus helping manage burnout better.
The Takeaway
Burnout is a common problem that can occur as a result of prolonged stress leading to exhaustion and feeling “swamped”.
There are many ways to help protect yourself from, and ease symptoms of, burnout.
While vitamin D does not directly help with burnout, it is part of a bigger formula for health and wellness that must be addressed at the first signs of chronic stress.
Vitamin D alongside other key nutrients, such as B-vitamins, vitamin C, and omega 3 fatty acids, can all play a protective role as well as possibly helping to alleviate symptoms of burnout.
Additionally, coping strategies such as meditation, relaxation, sleep, and walking are all proven methods of better stress management.
Above all, if you feel that burnout is affecting your daily life, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
