I spent two years at a workplace that provides good care to employees and pays well. Because of the way they manage their people, I was so inspired that I did my best to perform well and dedicated almost all of my time to work. I went overtime and even worked on my rest days. I pushed myself hard to be the best and come out on top during evaluations.
But as time went by, I noticed I was neglecting my mental and physical health. I no longer felt like hanging out with my friends, and gradually lost interest in my work. The so-called “job burnout” made me suffer intolerable changes.
According to Western Governors University, workplace burnout or job burnout is a “specific work-related chronic stress” that involves emotional and physical exhaustion leading to job frustration and emotional instability. If left unchecked, this could lead to a lot of adverse consequences impacting all areas of life. That is why it is important to know the warning signs and the tips to surmount them.
Burnout Warning Signs
1. You feel exhausted.
Have you ever felt exhausted or spent when at work? Did you only have a few tasks, but still had no energy? This means you are experiencing burnout. A burnout effect includes physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.
2. You feel less motivated.
Do you feel like quitting your job? Think of the times you are eager to start your job and motivated to come to work. If you lose your passion and motivation for work, this is a sign of burnout. One of its symptoms is absenteeism.
3. Your job performance is badly affected.
If you lose passion and motivation, your performance tends to decline. Burnout not only affects absenteeism, but also your productivity and efficiency in work.
4. You feel frustrated all the time.
When you become unusually full of negativity and easily get frustrated, you are experiencing burnout. It is the feeling of not having the urge to do anything because you think you are always bound to fail in your work.
5. You are having health problems.
As mentioned, burnout impacts one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. It can cause serious health problems like heart disease, respiratory issues, depression, and anxiety.
Tips to Fight Burnout
1. Relax and enjoy daily activities.
Relaxing is one of the best methods to relieve stress and exhaustion. Enjoy daily activities like reading a book, taking off from social media, and bonding with friends and family.
2. Focus on your life outside of the workplace.
Aside from relaxing and enjoying daily activities, you can focus on your life outside of work. It could be engaging yourself in a hobby or any recreational activities.
3. Re-organize your workloads.
If you feel that your performance is slipping, re-organize the way you handle tasks. Prepare to-do lists, prioritize the most important tasks, and work first on the easiest task. This way, you can be more productive and efficient.
4. Cope through stress management.
You can take a stress management class or seek professional help to manage and relieve stress. You will be happier, healthier, and more productive by coping with stress.
5. Exercise and get enough sleep.
Experts say a bad night’s sleep can negatively affect things like your job performance and productivity. Some studies prove that exercising improves one’s career too. Having sound sleep and exercise can boost one’s productivity, improve mood and memory, and boost the immune system.
Though dealing with workplace burnout is tough, we can put in the work to fight it and get back on our feet. You got this!
Feature Image by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash
