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Statistically, more than 60% of workers in Canada agrees that their main source of stress is Job related.
Job burnout are most times overlooked, largely because we tend to become so comfortable living with baggage and agreeing that it is just another phase of our boring life. The Mayo Clinic defines job burnout as a special type of work-related stress – a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.
The World Health Organization emphasizes that burnout is specifically work-related and classified it as s “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. Reading the WHO definition of burnout gives this phenomenon a ray of hope, the hope is that it can be managed successfully.
Though burnout is not a medical diagnosis, a prolonged period of stress that is specifically attributed to job related stress increases the risk of the following:
- Depression
- Heart Disease
- Substance Abuse
- Negative impact on physical and mental health.
Many researchers suggest that we are in denial most of the times, we experience all the signs and symptoms of burnout and don’t or would never believe that it is job related. The hope of our article is to create the awareness necessary so that we can pay attention to something that will take away every joy out of our lives. This blurb will explore some of the tell-tale signs of burnout, causes , risk associated, and how people that went through a burnout handled it.
Signs of a Burnout
- Lack of enthusiasm or excitement about your jobs – this is easy to identify, the test is simple, evaluate the way you feel about your job today and compare to how you felt when you started. The can range from your level of excitement, your willingness or mindset as it relates to going the extra mile etc.
- Feeling exhausted with simple routine task – think about it, task that you used to do and now it make you tired and just the thought of it makes you grumpy.
- No interest in personal performance – In life we all want to be recognized for being the best. When this doesn’t matter anymore we need to stop an re-evaluate
- Finding it hard to stay focus and concentrate – this right here is a direct result of stress on the body and mind
- Changes in everyday habits – sometimes looking for comfort in unhealthy lifestyles, whether its eating, alcohol consumption, less emphasis on the way you look and all that is bad for the body.
Causes of Burnout
- Not being the right fit – most times employers hire the perfect person for the job based on personality and credentials mostly to make and save them money however, we need to ensure the a company is right for us as well. More than half the times we are not in a position to negotiate what company we work for especially in these economic times. What are we looking for in a company? If your current company does not answer this question correctly, it is only a matter of time until you are stress beyond your wildest imagination.
- Unrealistic Expectation – These days companies are employing all sort of tactics to be more profitable and unknowingly or knowingly putting pressure on employees to deliver. This contributes to a stressful environment will eventually break the best of us. Sometimes we tend to be people pleasers and as such put ourselves up for certainty in failing.
- No work-life balance – In a time where more than 60% of stress are job related we tend to concentrate all of our energy on the job, unfortunately this is at the expense of self-care and a social life. This is fuel to the burnout flame.
- Denial that burnout exist – we blame others, our life, family, friends and everything else around and all of a sudden we crashed.
Risk Associated with Burnouts
Risks associated with burnout are easy to identify, the physical ones that is like:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Disease
- Fatigue & Insomnia
- and the list goes on and on
However, we need to be cognizant on breakdown of our mental health that is caused by Job Burnout. This is a major contributor in disrupting families, substance abuse and eventually suicide.
We can be in denial as much as the other person, but stress related mental health breakdown is real and takes a shot at the vulnerable, be on guard.
Coping with a Burnout
In today’s world there are help and support on every corner. Like so many others I need my cognitive ability to make a living and here are a few suggestion and Ideas I would give myself and closest friends:
- Eat your pride – Unless you there is a diagnosis, there cannot be a prescription. Many times we are in denial because we are too proud, what would others think if I ask for help ? and all the other questions. Whether this means holding your Managers and leaders responsible, the case of toxic work environment or speaking to a friends and family when you are feeling stressed.
- Cultivate Healthy Habits – Join a gym, cooking class, train for a marathon or whatever it is that creates anticipation.
- Make Plans – Plan vacation and family time in your schedules, we must remember life does not begins when we retire.
- Self Care – Take time for your self, whether it is professional development, reading and even refreshing your wardrobe from time to time.
Remember that we have to enjoy the journey that is life and not wait for retirement, we don’t know what is waiting for us at retirement. Start living NOW!!