27. Burnout
Segment 1 - What is Burnout
- (Mom) A feeling of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that occurs as a result of overwork.
- (Nic) “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
Signs of Burnout
- Mental
- Lack of interest, Lack of motivation, Forgetfulness, Procrastination, Hopelessness, Dreading work
- Physical
- Lack of sleep, Exhaustion, Changes in appetite, Manifestation of health issues (headaches, colds, mental illness)
- Emotional
- irritability/anger, Chronic stress, Anxiety, Depression, Cynicism in job setting
Mismanagement of Stress, and The Work Life Balance
- (Mom) These two are not the same. Some people react positively to stress, these people work well under stress. The difference comes in when too much pressure and stress leads to burnout. Burnout is exclusively detrimental.
- (Nic) Mismanagement of Stress Causes Burn-Out
- A Poor Work Life Balance is a Major Cause of Burn-out
- Common Causes of Poor WLB
- Increased expenses without an increase in salary.
- A Third of Employees cited this as the top cause of poor WLB.
- Increased responsibilities at work.
- Half of Millinials&GenX cited IR@W as the top cause of poor WLB.
- Increased responsibility at home.
- Two Fifths of Millinials&GenX cited IR@H, as making WLB worse
- Working longer hours.
- Half of Managers hours have increased over five years.
- Having children.
- A Quarter of Millennials are working more after having a child.
- Only Half of women & A Fifth of men take a career break after having children.
Segment 2 - Causes of Burnout
- Stages of Burnout
- Honeymoon Phase-Like a honeymoon phase in a marriage, this stage comes with energy and optimism. ,
- Onset of stress phase - Eventually, the honeymoon phase dwindles, and you begin to experience stress. Not every second of your day is stressful, but there are more frequent times when stress takes over.,
- Chronic Stress Phase- You’ll reach a point where the stress becomes more persistent, or chronic. As the pressure mounts, the stress is likely to consistently affect your work.
- Burnout phase - This phase is when you reach your limit and can no longer function as you normally would.
- Habitual Burnout phase - If left untreated, burnout can become a part of your everyday life and eventually lead to anxiety or depression. You can also begin to experience chronic mental and physical fatigue that prevents you from working.
- Causes of Burnout
- Lack of autonomy, Lack of recognition, Lack of job expectations, Overly demanding environment, expectations, or schedule, High pressure/high stress work environments, Overworking
- Post-Pandemic Burnout - “Unfortunately burnout has been steadily rising since May 2020 and we have now hit a critical threshold. As it currently stands, people and organizations are being set up for failure, since high burnout leads to lower morale, more mistakes, and a lack of engagement with work.” - Dr Sahar Yousef, UC Berkely
- Burnout in Teaching, Burnout in Healthcare
Midroll
Segment 3
- (Mom) How to prevent burnout
- Be proactive, Use workload management tools Utilize one on ones. Provide/Ask for clarity in regards to priority, Create realistic, measurable, attainable goals.
- (Nic) Tips to Improve WLB, reduce Burn-Out, and increase Productivity.
- Learn to Say “No”: Saying “no” to things that are less of a priority frees up time and energy to say “yes” to things that are important to you.
- Take Breaks: Even a 30-second microbreak can:Improve concentration, Reduce stress, Keep you feeling engaged, Make your work enjoyable
- Prioritize Your Health: Recognize the importance of maintaining your physical health, emotional well-being, and mental fitness
- Practice Self-Compassion: One of the most important ways to achieve a sense of work-life balance is to let go of perfectionism.
- Communicate Boundaries: Set and communicate your work hours to your colleagues and customers so that you have clear boundaries.
- Invest in Relationships: Lack of strong relationships increases the risk of premature death from all causes by 50%. That’s nearly as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
- Make Space for Family Time: Block out some time that’s devoted entirely to your family.
- Prioritize R&R: Rest is not a reward. It’s essential, like chores or work.
- Start Small: According to Tiny Habits author BJ Fogg, one way to succeed is to make tasks so simple and so tiny that you have no excuse not to do it. You’ll be able to do it even when you’re in a rush, if you’re sick, or when you’re distracted.
- Ask for Help: People are often guilty of taking everything on themselves. They don't want to “bother” anyone by asking for help. Consider that asking for help gives other people the gift of giving — and being part of a solution and support system. This builds the benefits of mutual relationships for all involved.
Outro