What Causes Burnout at Work?

Rebecca Lewis September 02, 2013

All of us experience burnout at some points in life. Burnout is a psychological term which refers to severe exhaustion and diminished interest in work. When stress takes over an employee, burnout sets in. Whilst it can be challenging, it is possible to overcome burnout. But first, one should know what is causing it, in their case.

Here are the most common causes of burnout at work. Check if you are dealing with one or a few of them.

Work Overload

Too much, even of a good thing, is bad and can be harmful to your health. A lot of employees think that they are spending so much time and effort doing their tasks at work that they tend to lose time and energy for personal matters. In a 2013 survey conducted by Gallup University researchers, fifty per cent of workers report being “not engaged” whilst 20 per cent report being “actively disengaged”.

Lack of Compensation

We all work to get a living, reach our career goals, and fulfil our dreams. But many workers tend to do more for less. Add the existing economic problems like the rising cost of commodities, the high cost of living, and unemployment (this discourages many workers to take risks and find better companies to work for). Another thing, many employers feel bad about their work because their efforts seemed unappreciated.

Partiality

In many corporate settings, there’s a culture of favouritism and ‘politics’. Many employees experience burnout because they are not treated fairly by their superiors and sometimes, even by their colleagues. There’s also a culture of unhealthy competition wherein some individuals are promoted, recognised and given more privileges even though they lack the qualifications for it.

Lack of Support

In a 2006 study by psychologists McPherson, Smith-Lovin and Brashears, it was found that the number of people saying they have no one with whom to discuss their issues with has tripled between 1985 and 2004. Stress, work overload, unfairness and unhealthy competition are issues that can stress a worker to the max. Those who lack support from their superiors and peers at work are more vulnerable to burnout.

Overcoming Boredom

Burnout can take a toll on your health, personal life and social relationship. It saps your energy, makes you less interested at work and even on things you used to love. Above all, it ruins your happiness.

The key to overcoming burnout is addressing stress issues as they arise. Here are some tips to help you recover from job burnout and at the same time, make your work life more satisfying.

Take a holiday leave. Sometimes, all we need is a little time from work to fully recharge our batteries and recover from burnout. Spend your holiday leave doing things you truly enjoy and those that give you nothing but pure fun.

Learn how to separate your personal life from work. Many people bring their unfinished paperwork at home. Your work is important, no question with that. But there are some other things that also need your time and attention.

Take care of yourself. The effects of burnout are more profound if you are not physically and emotionally fit. So you’ve got to take good care of yourself. Eat right, exercise, take enough rest, and pamper yourself from time to time. What about a body massage tonight or healthy dinner out with your loved ones?

Be mindful. Mindfulness-based strategies like deep breathing, yoga and meditation are scientifically proven to help professionals deal with job burnout. It also makes you more self-compassionate and boosts your happiness.

List down the things you enjoy at work. With a sense of gratefulness comes gladness. Maybe at this very moment, all you can think of are negative things about your current job. But take a minute looking at the entire picture from afar. Go back to the time when you were very excited and happy because you got hired. What are the tasks you enjoy doing at work? What are the things that make you feel more productive?

Talk to your supervisor. If you feel that you have too many tasks to keep up with, let your superior know. Explain to him or her that struggling with them undermines the quality of your work output and hampers your performance.

If all else fails, get ready to move on. Sometimes, the best option would be to quit your current job and find another one. But this should be done with proper preparation. Give yourself enough time to decide so you don’t end up getting another job that will make you feel too stressed again.