We all feel tired when we have a lot of tasks to do at work coupled with some personal responsibilities. That’s quite normal and understandable. However, when you always feel exhausted and find it difficult to overcome your exhaustion, then you might be suffering from work burnout. What is work burnout, and how can you overcome it? We will answer these questions and more in this article.
What is work burnout?
Having a bad day is a common occurrence for everyone. The cause could be because of an upcoming deadline or loads of responsibilities. However, after taking time to relax your brain by watching tv or taking a nap, you always get better. That is not the case when you are suffering from work burnout. When you have burnout you feel as if your work responsibilities are drowning you. This is a state of physical, mental, and emotional stress. According to W.H.O, work burnout is a result of accumulated work stress. This stress accumulated because they are not well managed.
What causes work burnout?
Work burnout is caused by a lot of factors. Generally, it is a result of an extended period of stress. Here are some other factors that cause work burnout:
Too much workload
There are times that you will have a lot of workload on your desk. While that is normal sometimes, it’s not good if that continues. With too much workload, you will be pressured to meet a lot of deadlines. You having too much workload might not be because your boss gave you a lot of work. It could be a result of not knowing how to say no to colleagues when they bring their responsibility to you. This could give you much stress and eventually lead to work burnout.
Toxic work environment
Another cause of work burnout is a toxic work environment. If your employer or supervisor is very demanding, you might be exposed to stress and frustration. Besides, taking on many tasks without any form of appreciation or acknowledgment might cause stress. Another trait of a toxic environment is when your value does not fit with the company’s own. This might cause you to be unhappy and unproductive, thus leading to mental stress. All this stress accumulated for a long time causes work burnout.
Not taking enough rest
Taking a day off might not necessarily help you avoid burnout, but it will reduce your stress level. Many workers do not take a day or two off because they might not be paid for those days. Thus, they work round the clock all year long. And without enough rest, there is every likelihood of burnout.
No work-life balance
Even though there is no such thing as perfect work-life balance. Maintaining a healthy one is still a great option. It is quite unfortunate that due to some factors, everyone now prides on being a workaholic. Being a workaholic is not good for your mental, physical and emotional health. So, if you have no work-life balance, you might find yourself at the edge of burnout sooner than you think.
Signs that you are suffering from work burnout
If you work long hours without rest or you have no work-life balance. You need to examine yourself to know whether you are suffering from work burnout. Here are some signs to look out for:
Not getting excited about work
You are supposed to have at least small excitement for your work. If you notice that your job doesn’t excite you the way it used to, you might have work burnout. If you also notice that you dread going to work. Like you have a ‘Sunday scare’, then there is every possibility that you have work burnout.
You are less productive
When you are stressed mentally, physically, and even emotionally, your productivity suffers. Because you are not excited about work, you might be distracted and less creative. Thus, if you notice that you are not as productive as you used to be, then you have work burnout.
You are always exhausted
Another symptom is frequent exhaustion. Being exhausted even when you are supposed to be active. You are experiencing work burnout.
You have symptoms of physical ailment
Sometimes, your emotional and mental state manifest in your physical being. Thus, signs of physical ailment such as headache, cold, and weight variation, could depict work burnout.
How can you overcome work burnout?
The moment you notice any of these signs, the question on your mind should be what next? You need to understand that overcoming work burnout takes a lot of effort and time. So don’t expect results immediately. Here are some steps you can take that can help you overcome work burnout.
Seek professional help
Sometimes, you might feel overwhelmed with signs of work burnout. And it might turn out to be something you can’t handle on your own. In cases like this, make sure that you seek professional help. You don’t need to go through overcoming it alone, you need someone to strategize with you on how to overcome it.
Have a regular relaxing time
To overcome work burnout, you need to find time to engage in activities that are not work-related. You can dedicate one or two hours in a day to engage in activities such as reading, swimming, meditating, and others. Make sure you schedule them regularly to take off daily work stress.
Maintain a work-life balance
The line between work and personal life is becoming blurry, especially with the rise in remote work. To maintain a healthy work-life balance, you need to refrain from doing work-related tasks after work hours. Have this discussion with your employer and let them know your stand.
Take occasional time off
If you notice the sign of work burnout, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to remove yourself from the work environment. Therefore, make sure you take occasional time off. However, the duration of your time off depends on you and the company’s policy.
Consider changing your job
Some employers give rewards to staff that work extra hours. This means that they expect you to work overtime thinking they are compensating you for burnout. However, if you are already experiencing burnout without having time to rest, that might mean you have to consider changing your job. This is because managing work burnout can be disastrous to your health.
Final Thought
We hope you now have a full understanding of what work burnout is. Now that you know the causes of work burnout, we hope you will avoid them. If you are already suffering from work burnout, the tips in this article will help you overcome them and boost your productivity.
