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Burnout, we bid thee farewell.
In a poll by working humans for working humans, burnout was declared the most infamous phrase of the year. (Not really, but are we wrong for saying so?)
Actually, I’m willing to bet that burnout, work stress, compassion fatigue, and anxiety are just a few of the most common words highlighting the current state of the modern workplace.
However, despite peak levels of work-related stress and dysfunction this last year, “burnout” has never been at the forefront of an employer’s mind like it is today.
And thanks to the recent rule change by the SEC, employers are obligated to do a whole lot more about it.
“Previously, organizations only had to disclose their number of employees. Now, they must divulge human capital metrics considered to be material to an understanding of the company’s business. They include employee attraction, development, retention, diversity and inclusion, engagement, employee satisfaction, and health and safety.”
To which I have this to say:
Dear burnout et al., your devilishly sneaky and calloused reign of tyranny is about to end.
The truth is, “burnout” has gotten a lot of attention over the last 12 months. Still, what exactly is it and what causes it?
What you have to understand is, burnout is more than just feeling “stressed” about a project or deadline.
In Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement by Herbert Freudenberg, he describes burnout this way:
“The extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”
Well said, no doubt, but what else is it?
According to the World Health Organization:
Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.
Essentially, burnout is the result of chronic, unmanaged stress that stems from from a lack of recovery; ultimately, lowering performance, unhappiness, and oftentimes some far worse consequences.
TL;DR: Burnout sucks. It’s bad sh*t. And you’re probably doing it to your people or yourself— even if you don’t intend to.
Seneca once said, “The worse a person is the less he feels it.”
That is until you do feel it. Like in the case of #burnout.
You see, our body is a finely tuned system that regenerates, adapts and self-actualizes depending on how much we push and recover - if you can't find the right balance (or actively neglect it), you'll end up feeling some type of way.
Trina Hamilton, M.Ed., CPCC, ACC laid out three key areas and what to look out for below:
*Emotional*
Withdrawn
Easily frustrated
Helpless
Resentful
Irritable
Depression
*Mental*
Can’t concentrate
Less effective
Can’t get things done
Low confidence
Compulsion to prove
Procrastinating
*Physical*
Fatigue
Low energy
Low appetite
Gastrointestinal issues
Poor sleep
Body or head aches
So, be aware of how you're feeling.
In a study on burnout published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, the authors list a number of both causes and signs of burnout:
Of course, you will occasionally feel fatigued or find it hard to concentrate, that doesn't mean you are burning out. However, if these symptoms, which are by no means comprehensive, persist and affect your ability to work on a consistent basis, seek help and rush to recovery.
Below, you can see the delicate relationship that exists between stress and intentional recovery.
Clearly, work stress is a constant, it’s a necessary part of our growth and development. When work stress is met with proper recovery, we see adequate compensation. That means your body reaches a new level of homeostasis, one capable of being pushed harder.
On the contrary, when a series of intense “work loads” are met with lapses in recovery, we see inadequate compensation. Inadequately recover for too long and you’ll experience a classic case of burnout.
Believe it or not, we all have unique bandwidths. That bandwidth being our ability to entertain stressors without boiling over (some people refer to this is resilience).
As a matter of fact, X amount of push for Bill might not be right for Teddy. Fortunately, however, Teddy can improve his bandwidth over time, if he elicits a significant enough stress response and second, he responds with an intentional recovery and self-care regimen.
Remember, burnout is not I just feel sh*tty about myself. Burnout is a physiological response; that when it gets bad enough, it presents itself as a mental health issue.
Although, by then, you’re already in the belly of the beast.
Truthfully, it’s important to know that burnout does not occur over night, nor is it catalyzed by the same series of instances for everyone.
Burnout is a beast; and it requires a cocktail of precision interventions to overcome and prevent.
Note: The intention of this article is not to criminalize work-related stress. In fact, we think that some stress can be a good thing for an organization or individual, that is, when recovery and self-care accompany it.
Below, I have listed a number of strategies for putting yourself in the best position possible to resist the pitfalls and radioactive contagion known as: Burnout.
Well, there you have it.
P.S. Don’t try and do all these things at once.
And if you’re really invested in improving your performance, get real sight with LEON and maximize your growth windows.
Sincerely,
Braedon ft. The Burnout Prevention Squad