Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash
Not too long ago I saw this quote somewhere online:
“Burnout exists because we’ve made rest a reward rather than a right.” — Juliet C. Obodo
I recently took a very long vacation, which I enjoyed a lot. However, I ended up doing some work during the vacation so I wasn’t fully unplugged.
Here’s what I learned from this experience:
I should not have scheduled anything because stepping away from work gives me a chance to recharge and come back stronger.
No one will respect your time as much as you do, so you must set the boundaries yourself.
There are things that can wait. Prioritize smartly.
Time off is priceless and should be enjoyed. Do not feel guilty about it. We all deserve time off.
I know I’m not the only one who worked during a vacation. In fact, so many people work way too much that it’s led to an increased amount of workers experiencing burnout.
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines burnout in these two ways:
As a noun: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.
As a verb: to cause to fail, wear out, or become exhausted especially from overwork or overuse.
If you sense that your productivity at work is low, but you aren’t sure why, knowing the signs of burnout may help you fend it off.
These are a few of the many signs of burnout at work:
Not taking time completely off from work when you should.
Not giving yourself time to do things after work, such as going to the gym, watching movies, grabbing dinner with friends, relaxing, and spending quality time with kids and significant others.
Inconsistent sleep patterns can be detrimental. Sleep is so important for our bodies and brains to function as well as for our emotions. According to the CDC, an adult between 18-60 years old needs 7+ hours of sleep per night. Make sleeping enough hours a habit!
Feeling liberated from work when Friday rolls around. If you feel that way every Friday it might be a sign of something being out of place: either you’re working too much, or the job is not the best match for your skills, or the company doesn’t promote a healthy, thriving culture.
The same goes for getting Sunday scaries. If you get tense and stressed out on Sunday evenings knowing you have to work on Monday, it’s a sign that something is not in the right place.
Not having many words to describe your job. At times, work can be tiring, stressful, or boring but if you do not have the energy to describe your job more than just “fine” or “ok” before you change the topic, you should evaluate your workplace situation.
People constantly asking you if you are ok. When we are exhausted, our closest family, friends, and coworkers can tell that something is wrong.
To combat burnout, first, talk to your manager and coworkers and take some time off to recharge and focus on your mental and physical health. Then ensure that the workload and work tasks are not exceeding normal work hours and loads. If you have a supportive workplace, they will be willing to work on a solution with you.
If you are new to a workplace, make sure to create a network of coworkers and make work friends. Working remotely is very common nowadays and can prove to be a challenge, but you can still engage with coworkers via apps such as Slack, often used for company communications. As you check in with your team, ask how everyone is doing and remember the little details of your coworkers’ life outside work as this can create meaningful connections.
Lastly, do not work on a “vampire” schedule: from early morning to late evening. Not being able to enjoy daylight will definitely make things worse. Set up an alarm every couple of hours to take a walk around your house, yard, neighborhood… movement is good for your overall health and will give you a much-needed break from the screen and work-related issues.
Remember: life is not all about work, it’s about YOU and making sure you are taking care of yourself and asking for help when you need it.
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama
Written by: Sandy Rivera, Recruiting Coordinator at Hunter Crown, LLC
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