I can’t take this anymore, I quit.
Have you ever been in this position? Our Job can be hard on us at times, no matter how good we are at it. Handing the hardpoints at work is very essential.
The term “burnout” was coined in the 1970s by the American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. He used it to describe the consequences of severe stress and high ideals in “helping” professions. Doctors and nurses, for example, who sacrifice themselves for others, would often end up being “burned out” — exhausted, listless, and unable to cope.
Researchers have identified three main types of symptoms for burnout:
- Exhaustion: no energy, poor memory, bad sleep, get sick often;
- Alienation: isolation, negative perspective, neglect yourself, easily agitated;
- Reduced Performance: missing deadlines, becoming less engaged, procrastination, inability to concentrate.
You may also be on the road to burnout if:
- Every day is a bad day.
- Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy.
- You’re exhausted all the time.
- The majority of your day is spent on tasks you find either mind-numbingly dull or overwhelming.
- You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated.
Most of us have probably come across a burnt-out individual in our time; the one who walks out and quits in a whirlwind of drama, the person who completely loses it at the boss for pushing too hard, or the one who sends a company-wide email about how “crappy the management team” are…
Signs and symptoms of burnout
Physical signs and symptoms of burnout
- Feeling tired and drained most of the time
- Lowered immunity, frequent illnesses
- Frequent headaches or muscle pain
- Change in appetite or sleep habits
Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout
- Sense of failure and self-doubt
- Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated
- Detachment, feeling alone in the world
- Loss of motivation
- Increasingly cynical and negative outlook
- Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment
Behavioural signs and symptoms of burnout
- Withdrawing from responsibilities
- Isolating yourself from others
- Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done
- Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope
- Taking out your frustrations on others
- Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early
But before it goes that far, let’s figure out the problem
- Is it your workload?
- Are you anxious about your job performance?
- Is it something to do with your personal life?
Dealing with burnout requires the “Three R” approach:
- Recognize — Watch for the warning signs of burnout
- Reverse — Undo the damage by seeking support and managing stress
- Resilience — Build your resilience to stress by taking care of your physical and emotional health
What to do about this!
- Speak to your manager about your workload.
- Request a performance review.
- Take some time off to sort things out at home.
- Ask for flexible working hours to fit around your family.
Life’s too short to be unhappy — and you’re not going to help anyone if you are burnout.
Helpful Resource:
https://qz.com/work/1640624/a-psychotherapist-explains-how-to-deal-with-burnout-symptoms/
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/burnout-recovery
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm
