It happens all the time to business professionals. You push yourself hard to make a deadline, or you fill in the gaps when a colleague leaves for a new position. After a while you find that the workload exceeds the benefit you are getting from the job and paycheck and things start to feel pretty bleak. You’re suffering from burnout, and it could even start to cause health problems. How do you recognize the signs and fix it before it’s too late?
Symptoms of burnout include:
- Being cynical or critical
- Constantly finding yourself off task
- Lack of motivation
- Having a short temper
- Experiencing a drastic change in your eating habits
- Not feeling thankful for your job
It’s not just an attitude problem that causes burnout. Usually there is some other component like not feeling appreciated or not having a paycheck that feels proportionate to the position. Maybe your workplace is unsupportive when there is a problem. Maybe you hate your job but you can’t quit. Whatever the cause, it’s important to recognize the signs and to do something about it.
If you are feeling overwhelmed in your position, ask for help. Try to delegate tasks or restructure work loads more equitably. Make time for exercise and meditation to help alleviate some of your stress. If your current position just isn’t working for you no matter how you try to make it work, consider looking for a new position. Sometimes walking away and getting a fresh start is the best answer.
Learn more about identifying and preventing workplace burnout from this infographic. You might be surprised just how common the phenomenon is in the American workplace, especially among Millennials and among women. There are even certain jobs where burnout is considerably more commonplace. You can beat burnout, and the sooner you catch it the easier it is to deal with.
Infographic courtesy of Best Medical Degrees