Workplace burnout can happen to any worker. If it’s ignored, it can affect your career and even your whole life.
Do you spend Sunday night mourning the fact that you have to go to work tomorrow? Or, do you find yourself feeling tired and overwhelmed, even before you begin working for the day? If you can relate to these situations, it may be a sign that you have workplace burnout. It means, you might’ve been overworked and brought yourself on the brink of breaking down.
Workplace Burnout
Taking a break is necessary for all kinds of workers, or else it’ll result in workplace burnout. Workplace burnout is an occupation-related syndrome, American Psychological Association (APA) stated, resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. There are many reasons why someone experiences burnout. Some of them are excessive workloads, lack of recognition or reward, and toxic work environments.
The consequence of burnout is harmful to both the individual and their workplace. APA stated that employees with workplace burnout have a 180% increased risk of developing depressive disorders. They will also have 40% increased risk of hypertension. Moreover, workers who suffer from burnout will be less innovative and more likely to make errors in their work.
Do you have workplace burnout? Read more to find out.
Signs You Suffer from Workplace Burnout
According to a report by Future Forum, employee burnout is still on the rise globally. 42% of the workforce is reporting burnout, with 53% of workers who are dissatisfied with their level of flexibility say they are burned out.
How do you know when to stop your grueling work routine, and get some time out of your office? Check out the signs below.
You Feel Tired All the Time
When you’re burnt out, it affects your physical condition. You will feel exhausted and lethargic throughout the day, even though you don’t really do heavy work. It’s because high pressure from your superior can lead to burnout. This will lower your immune system, which explains why you can get sick easily when you suffer from a burnout.
You Lose Your Motivation
When you no longer feel the motivation about your job, you might’ve experienced a burnout. Constance Hadley, an organizational and management lecturer, told The Brink that burnout is associated with feeling detached and distanced from a job, and even becoming cynical about it. Often, this will lead to a drop in your work performance.
You Think About Work All the Time
Thinking about work even at home is not a sign of dedication. Often you cannot help but to remember all the unfinished tasks in your laptop, or your colleagues sending emails at night and on weekends. However, if you are still working after office hours, it can lead to burnout easily.
Your are Easily Irritated
When you find yourself wanting to snap at your co-workers, or even friends and family, it can be another sign of burnout. Sometimes you might even be irritated at small things, like the way someone walks. This irritation comes from anxiety towards a broad range of potential scenarios. In this case, it can come from your endless workflow or pressuring boss or manager.
How to Prevent Workplace Burnout
Workplace burnout is often mistakenly treated at individual level, Hadley continued in her interview. Employees that experience burnout are usually told to practice self-care, or reach out to psychologists for help. However, this is actually a workplace problem, not a worker problem. Toxic working environment causes employee burnout, and self-care is not enough to prevent it from happening.
If you experience all of the signs above, maybe you should approach your HR or supervisor. If the problem comes from your teammates or the workload, they can help in making adjustments where it requires. Sometimes, you might even require switching jobs. Meanwhile, you may want to take a holiday as a temporary relief. Self-care might not completely solve the problem, but it can help you restore your energy and motivation.
Final Thoughts
Workplace burnout is something that can happen to any worker. It can happen to you without you knowing it. Don’t wait until it’s severe—it can affect your career and your life. It’s okay to reach out to your HR or professional healthcare when you start feeling overwhelmed at work. After all, your health is the most important thing that you should pay attention to.
Next read: 3 Types of Toxic Coworkers (And How to Handle Them Tactfully)
