What is burnout?
The World Health Organisation defines burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” that leads to feelings of exhaustion, a negative outlook and a drop in workplace performance.
Burnout can have many causes, including:
- Conflict or a lack of support in the workplace
- Feeling like you have no control over your work
- Uncertainty regarding your job responsibilities
- Feeling overworked
- Feeling bored due to a lack of work
- Poor work-life balance
It can also manifest in different ways, with symptoms including:
- Strong sense of fatigue
- Difficulty focusing
- Short temper
- Lack of job satisfaction
- Self-doubt and negative self-talk
- Unexplained physical discomfort
- Checking out from socialising at work
Though burnout is considered a sign of workplace stress, it is not treated as a “medical condition” in and of itself. That being said, it can lead to medical conditions, such as depression, which you may experience at the same time as feeling burnt out.
You could also be suffering from another medical condition that is causing you to experience symptoms of burnout, such as anemia (low iron levels), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and sleep apnea. If you identify that you are experiencing the symptoms of burnout, it’s best to consult a medical professional to eliminate any other causes.
How to beat burnout without quitting your job
1. Ask for help
Sharing your feelings and asking for help is essential. Lean on your support network and let them know how burnout is affecting you. This could involve talking to family members, friends, colleagues and/or medical professionals. Talking to a doctor is especially important if you have a pre-existing medical condition, like depression, that could be exacerbated by burnout.
If you feel comfortable, it’s also a good idea to start a dialogue with your supervisor at work. During these discussions, you can explore possible adjustments to your role and think about ways to set boundaries with colleagues who may be causing you stress.
2. Practice healthy habits
More exercise, better sleep hygiene, and healthier eating are all great ways to manage the symptoms of burnout. By improving your physical health, you’re creating the right conditions for your mental wellbeing to recover. Honing your stress management skills can also help you quiet your mind and feel more present. For example, you may choose to practice mindfulness meditation or engage in meditative physical activities, like yoga, to help improve your state of mind.
3. Check-in with yourself
Keeping track of your stress levels and how they respond to changing conditions is a useful way to identify your stress triggers. From there, you can develop strategies to avoid these triggers or lessen their impact. One common way to do this is journaling, where you try to get all of the thoughts in your head down on a page. This also has the benefit of quietening your mind and creating space for more meditative thoughts.
It’s also crucial to practice self-compassion and find time to do the things that make you feel happy and fulfilled. This is an important step towards reaching a more relaxed state of mind. You don’t need to spend every moment of your day trying to overcome burnout; otherwise, trying to get rid of burnout will just become another source of stress.
The importance of tackling burnout in the workplace
The question of “how to reduce burnout in the workplace” should also be carefully considered by employers as well as employees. Organisations need to play a role in creating a work environment where their staff can thrive. Not only does this produce happier and healthier employees, but it also leads to better productivity and reduced absenteeism.
For example, Central Park offers a number of facilities to our tenants to help them achieve a better work-life balance, including a fitness centre, End of Trip facility and dedicated parklands.
Are you looking for an office environment where you can help your team grow and cultivate a supportive working environment? Explore leasing opportunities with Central Park today.