Battling Burnout

Have you ever had days when you feel completely exhausted before your workday even begins? Do you dread opening your email inbox for fear of how many messages await? Or have you had just about enough video conference calls to last you the rest of your life? If so, you might be dealing with work fatigue and burnout, and you’re not alone.

According to a 2021 study performed by Indeed, employee burnout has increased, with 52% of its respondents feeling burned out and 67% believing that it’s worsened over the course of the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, 43% of those surveyed reported feeling burned out. This issue used to be a phenomenon that largely affected millennials, but it actually impactsall ages and types of workers.

The causes and impacts of employee burnout have always existed, but the reality is that it’s something that employers and employees should not ignore. To help combat these feelings, try to practice these three methods:

Practice a strong work/life balance. Some people have found that working from home causes them to put in more hours since they are accessible more often. Think about shutting down your computer and turning off your work phone at a certain time every day so you can get some downtime.

Share your concerns. If you have certain concerns, share them with your manager. Together, you both should be able to remedy whatever situation is causing you stress. Set goals for what needs to get done and what can wait. If your company has an employee assistance program, consider taking advantage of services such as virtual mental health.

Reduce exposure to job stressors. Determine the high-value activities that trigger unhealthy stress. This might involve reevaluating expectations of colleagues, clients, and coworkers for how much you’re willing to take on as well as setting forth rules for collaborating.

There’s no doubt the pandemic has exacerbated certain workplace trends, including burnout. By seeking much-needed support for you and offering assistance to your coworkers, you can help mitigate these feelings of burnout and improve your mental health.

Sources: Mayoclinic.org, HBR.org, Inc.com