The World Health Organization determined that “burnout” is a legitimate diagnosis and a growing problem in our fast-moving society. Burn-out is included in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an occupational phenomenon. It is not classified as a medical condition. Burnout is defined as:
A syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: 1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and 3) reduced professional efficacy. Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.
Signs of Burnout
So what are the signs of Burnout and what do you need to watch out for?
- Emotional exhaustion: Burnout causes people to feel drained, unable to cope, and tired. They often lack the energy to get their work done and lack the ability to focus and motivate themselves. Once engaged employees can be seen as exhausted, angry and/or emotional.
- Reduced performance: Burnout mainly affects everyday tasks at work. Individuals with burnout feel negative about tasks. They have difficulty concentrating and often lack creativity and motivation. You may find that previously engaged employees are less productive, less focussed or engaged with their job and their standards/performance may fall.
- Detachment from work-related activities: Individuals experiencing burnout can see their jobs as increasingly stressful and frustrating. Therefore they are more likely to want to turn-off and distance themselves in an attempt to feel better.
- Physical symptoms: In some cases burnout and stress may manifest as physical symptoms. This can include things like headaches and stomach problems.
What can be done to prevent Burnout?
Burnout is caused by work pressures and stresses. Preventing burnout at the outset is often about making sure that the company/business has a great culture that helps their employees flourish at work and shows them that they are valued. However, while employees can seek to influence the culture of their workplace, it is often out of their control. So what can you do an individual level to help prevent burnout?
01. Provide Feedback
You should call out problems in the workplace. If there are specific issues that are causing an unhealthy workplace, you should consider providing feedback and talking with a supervisor or HR department about these issues and how they can be changed/improved to create a better culture/working environment for all.
02. Put in place strategies for managing your stress
On a personal level, once you have identified that something needs to change you can start putting in place clear personalised strategies that help you manage stress. Self-care strategies such as eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, taking breaks, sleeping well etc can help reduce the effects of a stressful job.
03. Take your vacation time
Make sure you use your holiday allowance and take much needed time off and step away from work life. It is particularly hard at the moment to take vacation time when there is no where to go and nothing to do, but simply taking time-out or time off can ensure that you are taking breaks.
However, it is not enough to just take your holiday – it is important to take regular scheduled breaks and to find some work/life balance to suit you.