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Beat Burnout Before Going Up In Flames

Especially since our living rooms became our offices, everyone wants to think they’re work-life balance superheroes, able to rock 12-hour work days, Allie’s soccer games, Ben’s parkour classes, and Tuesday archery lessons. But then the burnout strikes, and we realize we don’t have superpowers; we are tired, mentally and physically. Even would-be superheroes burn out when they ignore their own needs.

Here’s how to spot and extinguish burnout before it takes over your life.

Recognize the symptoms

Feeling frustrated, irritable, or disconnected is an early sign of burnout. Frequent illness, insomnia, easy irritability, and feeling “spent” are also signs of physical and emotional exhaustion. Feeling alienated or disconnected at work is yet another symptom. And if your performance is suffering from apathy or lack of confidence, that’s one more red flag.

Find the causes

What workplace factors are common causes of burnout? Inability to participate in decision-making processes is a leading culprit as well as a lack of employee appreciation. Employees feel less stress and anxiety when they can exercise control over their daily efforts. Heavy workloads, unclear expectations, and erratic evaluations are also frequent offenders.

Unplug

Thanks to remote email access and virtual meetings, employees often feel they must be on call 24/7, answering messages at midnight and on weekends. When does anyone unplug and relax? The rise of technology must correspond with the rise of time-management boundaries, both individually and as companies.

Talk with your boss

Your productivity and overall health will suffer if you burn out. Work together with your boss to develop boundaries, such as setting lunch hours and blackout hours for email, that can stave off the burnout that is bad for you both. If alienation or disconnection is the problem, your boss may help you connect your efforts with the overall goals of the organization.

Speak with a professional

Don’t wait until you’re mired in despair, anxiety, and exhaustion before seeking professional help. A therapist can help you adjust to work-life demands, whether you’re new to a job or on the brink of burnout. As an added bonus, mental-health services are often covered by insurance and may even be free through your employer’s EAP.

In conclusion

You may not be a superhero of work-life balance and that’s OK. So take a step back, evaluate where you are and what you need, how you feel right now versus how you want to feel, and then prepare to soar up, up, and away to success!

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