The term ‘Burnout’ is one that you may not have heard very often. You may have heard people talk about being ‘stressed at work’ and work stress is a common phenomenon. However the World Health Organisation (WHO) characterises Burnout as an ‘Occupational Phenomenon” and is described
“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions:
- feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
- increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
- reduced professional efficacy.
Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”
So now that we have an understanding of what Burnout is , lets look at the 5 tell tale signs you maybe suffering from burnout and what you can do about them
- You Are Always Tired
Persistent exhaustion is a common sympton.You feel constantly exhausted both physically and emotionally. You feel completely drained of all energy and getting out of bed in the morning in a monumental effort fo you.
- Insomnia
Getting a good nights sleep becomes almost impossible.When you do manage to fall asleep you can only manage a few hours a night. In the morning you are exhausted and every night you worry about whether you will fall alseep, which only makes the issue worse.
- Physical Symptoms
People suffering from burnout can also experience a number of physical ailments which can include-
- Chest Pains
- Shortness of Breath
- Palpitations
- Gastrointestinal pain
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Detachment
Detachment is also a symptom of burnout.You may feel yourself becoming increasingly more detached from both your work colleagues and people around you. You may stop responding to emails or calls at work and eventually stop working on any work related tasks alltogher
- Poor performance
You will notice your performance suffering because you have lost interest in normal tasks. You no longer care about meeting deadlines or speaking to colleagues. This will also affect your personal life.
Now that you have confirmed that you maybe suffering from burnout , the question is what to do next?
You may be tempted to explore different roles or or new career. However you do not have to leave your job to treat your burnout. Below are some tips on how to deal with it –
- Talk to your friends and family about what you are going through. You may think that they will judge you but the reality is that they want what is best for you. They have probably noticed the changes in you and are happy that you have chosent to confide in them.
- Join a local community group or try volunteering. This gives you the chance to make new friends in a new environment and possibly meet other people that maybe experiencing the same challenges.
- Take some time off and get some distance from work. Use your vacation days and make sure you are completely cut off from work – do not answer emails, take call etc . You could also consider taking some unpaid time off if that is a viable option for you.
- Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
- Start an excercise routine. Excercise is a well known stress reliever and will improve your overall health
Hopefully you now know a little more about burnout and whether it is something that is affecting you. Don’t forget that it affects all areas of your life including personal relationships. It is very important that you tackle it as soon as possible. Comment below and let us hear more about your burnout journeys.
