Seven Steps To Avoid Or Reverse Burnout

We’ve all heard colleagues or friends talk about “feeling burned out.”  You may have felt that way yourself from time to time.  Medical researchers have studied burnout for a number of years, but the concept has always been a bit fuzzy.  But that’s changed now that the World Health Organization has officially recognized burnout as a legitimate medical disorder.  Workers and employers need to reconsider the causes and dangers of burnout.

How do you know if you’re suffering from burnout?

According to the WHO, doctors can diagnose someone with burnout if they meet the following symptoms:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
• Reduced professional efficacy

Signs of burnout

Some signs of burnout are subtle and others are easy to recognize.  Some examples you should watch for:

• Become aware of unhealthy eating

• Recognize weakening relationships

• Acknowledge any continual anger

• Notice emotional distance

7 Ways of Handling burnout

1. Learn your own strengths: If your job doesn’t fit your skill set, it’s easy to become disengaged.   Look at new projects or even new positions to get energized and send burnout packing.

2. Understand your weaknesses: In order to understand what you need to work on, it’s important to figure out what, exactly, is holding you back. Self-assessment is essential; without it, you can’t even begin to grow.

3. Develop strong partners at work: Having friends at work can make it easier to seek advice without feeling judged, allowing you to gain access to feedback and information you might not otherwise get.  Developing strong relationships and having people you can rely on — plus being a reliable partner to others — goes a long way toward preventing burnout

4. Communicate: If you are feeling burned out, don’t try to suck it up or hide it.  It won’t work.  A conversation with higher-ups can be valuable in fostering support, ideas, and feedback for everyone involved.  A good manager will be open to discussing your situation, supporting you through a rough time, and working with you to address the stressors causing burnout.

5. Identify a good manager: Employees who felt supported by their manager are about 70 percent less likely to experience burnout on a regular basis

6. Keep good health habits: Self-care is important, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.

7. Consider a change: You may need a change – a new position in your company, or maybe even a new career direction.