Recently Forbes published an article on how to recognize burn out. We can all face these challenges on occasion, so read on to see if you have any of the signs.
Doing challenging work is engaging. It gets the creative juices going and generates a sense of satisfaction once you complete it.
But challenging work can also be overwhelming. Without pacing, challenges can easily lead to long nights of stress and a sense of drowning: No matter where you look, there’s another problem waiting and no simple solution in sight.
Burnout comes in many forms, but they can all take you away from a career or goals you have worked hard to achieve. So what are the warning signs, and what can be done once you see them?
Asking Yourself ‘Am I Burning Out?’
If you’re asking the question, you may already be approaching burnout. Burnout ensues when we no longer integrate the things we need into our daily lives. Identify what it is that disappeared when you began to feel burnt out. What would it take to bring that back? Is it a purely internal decision you need to make or do you need to set, and honor, clearer boundaries? Ask for support if necessary.
Avoiding Human Interaction
If you don’t want to attend meetings, answer calls, engage in small talk, or even leave your desk, you’re about to burn out. Burnout is commonly found within human service professions, because human interactions require energy and engagement, no matter if you’re an introvert or an extrovert. To avoid social exhaustion, establish a routine with self-care, exercises, meditation and healthy food.
Irritability is a lesser recognized symptom of burnout. Your irritability extends to your colleagues, your work, and even comes home with you! This stems from a personal feeling of lack of effectiveness, lack of competence, lack of contribution or a feeling of purposelessness. As you start getting irritable, step back to identify the cause of it. If its purposelessness, identify a purpose and so on.
Needing To Call Out Sick
One may not be physically sick, but rather sick at the thought of returning to a place that does not make them feel their absolute best. One should consider the pros and cons of their working environment, management and future opportunities. If the negatives outweigh the positives, then it’s time to seek an invigorating work environment — one that caters to career, health and life balance needs.
Feeling Bored
As time passes at work, what once motivated your creative juices now drains your energy, makes you irritable and maybe even down right mean. Boredom is real, and if you ever find yourself in this situation, first identify the parts of your work that are causing the boredom, then look for new ways to bring life to the situation. Tap into those creative juices again and get back to loving your work.
Regularly Feeling The ‘Blahs’
It’s one thing when you have a case of the “blahs” every once in a while about work when nothing seems energizing or exciting. If you find yourself feeling this way consistently, though, that’s the time to take action. Look for how you can get involved in a group or task different from what you’re currently doing to change pace, work with a different group of colleagues, or gain a new perspective.
Make it a great day!