Burnout

So maybe you’ve been on the job for quite a long time and you don’t see the point of getting up for another exhausting week; or maybe you started just a few months ago but no longer feel excited about going to work, or maybe you feel that your work is more a burden than a joy to keep. Chances are you’re experiencing burnout!

First of all, let’s try to define what burnout is. 

According to helpguide.org,

“Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.”

It is equally important to know the causes of burnout to know how to prevent, or manage it in case you might already be experiencing it. There are actually different contributing factors, but we shall focus on work-related burnout. Here are a few causes and what you can do about them:

• Unreasonable time-pressure. It’s a fast-paced environment, we get it. Some managers may expect more than what employees can deliver. It’s simple. Be more transparent about what you can achieve in a day/week. Better yet, create a timeline and relay it to your boss.
• Little to no recognition/Lack of appreciation. Perhaps, you have finished your job ahead of the deadline, or created a better plan to increase sales, or have reached your quota before the month ended, and you expect a small recognition from the boss–but you get nothing. This may affect your morale and self-esteem. In this case, you may find a way to celebrate with the ones you love who will push and motivate you to become better at what you do.

• Unchallenging work. This may be a huge problem for some young professionals of this generation where everything is dynamic and easily change. Some say that young professionals easily get bored and just quit when they see no challenge in what they do. Try to reframe the way you look at your job and find other ways to become an asset to the company. Think out of the box, and continue learning. 

• Over-challenging work. As much as it gets boring to have unchallenging work, a work that has demands higher than what you can achieve may also cause burnout and stress. Again, be clear about what you can and cannot do. Communicate with your manager and let him/her know how you can be more effective when sticking to your reasonable plans. 

• Working too much. You might be aiming for a promotion, or trying to climb the corporate ladder quickly, or is just simply a perfectionist who can’t seem to relax unless everything is in order–in short, you’re working way too much. Always remember that your body is your greatest asset. You may have all the right skill set and is so good at your job, but when you’re not healthy, how are you going to deliver?

Now here are some other tips that you might want to try if you feel like you’re on the road to burnout:

1. Eat healthy foods – eating healthy foods might come last on your list especially when you are always in a hurry, but as much as possible, make sure not to skip meals and eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals to keep your mind and body working smoothly.
2. Rest well – at one point, you may have felt dizzy because you lacked sleep after pulling an all-nighter. Obviously, your mind and body cannot function properly because it lacks the oxygen it needs from sleeping. 
3. Socialize – in this modern world where verbal communication and socialization is as rare as a gem, we may often find ourselves being more comfortable alone with our gadgets. Go out, make real friends at work, set aside a special time to meet and know people in the office. After all, you’re with them more or less 40 hours a week, so might as well enjoy it.
4. Find time to relax – this may be in the form of watching a movie, traveling, going to a salon or spa, or just reading a book–whatever it is, find time to free your mind from all the stress and worries of your job.

Having a job is important, but your physical and psychological health should never be compromised. Always remember, your health is your bread and butter.

Any other tips, comments, or suggestions? Email us.