Most people spend the majority of their everyday life working. And if you dread your job, hate going to work, and don’t get any satisfaction out of it, it can turn into something more severe. One of the serious results of chronic work-related stress is a medical diagnosis called “burnout syndrome.” Characteristics are lack of energy, feeling mentally distant or cynical about a person’s job, and reduced efficacy at the workplace.
People who struggle emotionally and physically at their workplace may be at high risk of burnout. It can leave you feeling empty, exhausted, and even unable to handle the demands of everyday life. The pressure can come mostly from your job, but also stress from your general lifestyle can add to the problem. Some personality traits, like perfectionism and pessimism, can also contribute to this issue.
A high-stress job doesn’t have to lead to burnout if the stress is managed well. It can only become a problem when you don’t give yourself a chance to recover from everyday challenges. Heavy workloads place some individuals at a higher risk than others, but workers in every industry at every position are at potential risk.
How to handle burnout syndrome
Imagine a scene from the last two months when you felt your stress levels were too much to handle. Describe it with your senses in ten minutes of free writing.
- How did you feel, and what was so stressful about it? Write down a few words that first come to mind.
- Make the following lists: stress on your body, pressure on your mind, stress on the habits, and stress on the performance. Write down the symptoms of each of these categories. Do you notice a recurring theme in these stressful moments?
- List the common triggers you notice in the situations you’ve written down, such as who was there, what you were doing, and where you were at the time when it occurred.
Your de-stress style
Now try to find out what your de-stress style is. Self-care consists of the kind things you do for yourself. The benefits of self-care are endless, such as better mood, productivity, and generally more optimism. These are the small meaningful actions that feed your body, mind, and soul. Write down your current self-care activities, how often you do them, and how they make you feel.
Keep in mind that, although the term “burnout” may sound like it is a permanent condition, it can be reversible. Try approaching your HR manager about problems in the workplace and talking about the issues that are troubling you. If they care about the health of your organization, they should do their best to help.
Remember, life is what you make it, and you must find a way to make it work for you, and slowing down is an essential part of well-being and work productivity.
Discover the best way to help your coworkers avoid burnout syndrome, consistently connect with your leadership team, and predictably turn them into highly engaged employees. Call me for some complimentary advice. Book an appointment at https://go.oncehub.com/GregNichvalodoff or call me at +1 (604) 943-0800.
