According to a new survey by staffing firm Accountemps, more than half (52 percent) of workers said they are stressed at work on a day-to-day basis, and 60 percent reported work-related pressure has increased in the last five years. 54 percent of CFOs acknowledged their teams are stressed, and 55 percent said worker anxiety is on the rise. Employees polled cited heavy workloads and looming deadlines (33 percent), attaining work-life balance (22 percent), and unrealistic expectations of managers (22 percent) as top worries.

If this sounds a little like your experience, it’s nice to know you are not alone!

Burnout is about a lot more than just stress—it’s how your mind and your body tell you a change is needed.

Do you find yourself withdrawing from work and caring less about results?

Are you working harder, often mechanically or to the point of exhaustion? Just going through the motions? 

Here are a few time-tested tips for keeping burnout at bay.

• Exercise at least three times a week. Running, weight lifting, bike riding—anything that gets your heart and lungs working burns off stress.  Exercise releases endorphins that boost your mood and it dissipates built-up stress that otherwise leads to burnout. Many of our properties feature a state of the art fitness center, like Duchess Apartments for rent in North Bergen, Rittenhouse Hill Apartments in East Falls and Goldtex Apartments in Center City.
• Make time for a hobby. An art class, cooking, reading, sewing—anything that’s not part of the regular grind and that helps you relax will balance the things that wear  you down.
• Practice breathing exercises. “Just breathe!” Yes, it’s an old cliche, but there is a grain of truth behind every cliché. Deep breathing — in through the nose and out through the mouth — gives your body a boost of oxygen and it releases tension in your abdomen around your heart. 
• Take a break. Take a walk at lunch, and don’t take work home. Leave the office at the office. At home, find a time and place where you can relax and unwind. Even 15 minutes of relaxation can relieve stress.
• Laugh. Sometimes it helps to look at a situation and just laugh. If that fails, read the jokes that your uncle’s cousin’s best friend is e-mailing you three times a week. Pick a comedy next time you go to the movies or surf channels. 
• Take up meditation, yoga or tai chi. These disciplines have a restorative effect on the mind, body and soul — a great way to beat stress and burnout.

Watch for the warning signs of burnout and stay one step ahead.