by Justine Luzzi
What is Workplace Burnout?
Workplace burnout is a serious issue that arises when stress is not managed properly, and persists over a long period of time. To prevent burnout it’s important to understand why it occurs, be familiar with the warning signs that accompany it, and proactively address it, sooner rather than later.
Some factors that can lead to workplace burnout include:
- Unrealistic expectations and deadlines.
- Unsupportive leadership.
- Micromanagement.
- Working long hours and consecutive days without adequate time off to rest and recharge.
- Unfair treatment at work such as discrimination, racism, nepotism, workplace politics, and abuse.
Whatever the cause, workplace burnout is a serious problem that can seriously affect the quality of your work, and jeopardize your interpersonal relationships and health.
Symptoms of Workplace Burnout
The impact of workplace burnout will look different for different people, but there are some common symptoms to to be on the lookout for:
- Experiencing chronic fatigue or frequent headaches.
- Having a short fuse and displaying unusual irritability.
- Making careless mistakes.
- Feeling a lack of motivation, intention, or purpose.
If you resonate with the symptoms listed above, you’re not alone. The good news is, there are practical steps you can take to both heal and prevent workplace burnout. We’ll suggest some small tweaks and changes you can make to your daily life in order to bring your work-life relationship back into balance. When adopting these practices, remember that consistency counts! Change happens when we create and practice healthier habits every day.
Workplace Burnout Recovery
Here are some small changes that can make all the difference in reducing burnout:
- Uphold strong work boundaries: Stick to your schedule. Don’t assume responsibility for others’ work. Say no to requests that are outside the scopeof your work, or will result in additional work without corresponding compensation.
- Prioritize good nutrition: Stay hydrated and eat healthy foods that nourish your body.
- Exercise: Move your body daily. Set goals and embrace challenges that help to increase your strength and stamina. Pushing yourself physically will also often lead to deeper and more satisfying sleep.
- Utilize your vacation time: Taking regular breaks from the pressures of work to enjoy leisure and connection with your loved ones is vital to your health, well-being, and work performance. Don’t pass up your PTO!
Healing from workplace burnout is possible! By being proactive in managing and reducing stress, you can avoid potential health crises and feeling so overwhelmed that quitting your job feels like the only option left. Our course in The GUIDE App, “Preventing Workplace Burnout” will give you even more ideas and solutions for stepping out of the cycle.
For departments looking to prevent officer burnout and increase rates of retention, this course is especially critical. Click here to learn more about The GUIDE App, and to start the process of bringing this wellness resource to your team, so that they can improve their well-being, master their lives, and unleash their highest potential.