People who are unable to cope with working stress are at an increased risk of burnout. People who are burned out may feel fatigued, hollow, and unable to cope with life’s obligations.
Burnout is often accompanied by a slew of mental and physical health issues. Burnout may make it difficult for a person to operate successfully in their everyday life if it is not handled.
What is burnout?
Excessive and sustained stress can lead to burnout, which is a condition of emotional, bodily, and mental weariness. When you’re stressed, emotionally tired, and unable to fulfill continual expectations, it’s called burnout. As the tension mounts, you begin to lose interest in and drive for the position you took on in the first place.
Burnout saps your vitality and lowers your productivity, leaving you feeling powerless, despondent, cynical, and resentful. You may eventually feel as though you have nothing left to contribute.
Burnout has negative consequences in every aspect of your life, including your home, career, and social life. Burnout can also lead to long-term changes in your body, making you more susceptible to diseases such as colds and flu. Burnout must be addressed as soon as possible due to its numerous effects.
Signs and Symptoms
Burnout isn’t a diagnosable mental illness, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be treated as such.
Here are some of the most prevalent burnout symptoms:
You’re Exhausted
Burnout is a type of work-related stress marked by three distinct characteristics. The first is a sensation of exhaustion, both physically and emotionally.
You’re Turning Cynical
The second symptom of burnout is cynicism, which is characterized by a loss of enthusiasm for work that can be unpleasant or even harsh. It is frequently caused by exhaustion.
You’re Feeling Useless
The third pillar of burnout is a sense of ineptitude or the belief that you can’t possibly be productive. It makes you feel unaccomplished and unproductive. The other two tent poles of burnout, tiredness, and cynicism, sometimes seem to contribute to that sense. Other times, all three of them descend on you at the same moment.
You’re Depressed
It’s no surprise that sadness might come in if you’re fatigued, pessimistic, and feel useless.
According to research, burnout is primarily a professional issue, but depression is a life-wide issue that can include your employment. They are, nonetheless, linked. According to studies, those who are depressed are more prone to burnout.
You Hate Your Job
According to studies, work unhappiness is one of multiple burnout side effects (along with absenteeism and a variety of medical illnesses).
Everything Gets Under Your Skin
Burnout might be the cause of the demands of your job becoming too much for you, or if you get irritated with your coworkers (or, worse, customers or clients). It may become much worse: outright rage is another indicator that your work is wearing you down.
Your Mind Wanders
One of the mental indicators (along with things like forgetfulness) that you’re approaching burnout is difficulty focusing. According to some research, there are over 100 symptoms associated with it. Disillusionment and a lack of idealism are examples of motivational symptoms.
Sleep Is Tough to Get
Some studies relate difficulty falling asleep and keeping asleep to burnout (while others find no apparent correlation). When it comes to sleep issues, don’t take chances. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’re more likely to get heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and renal disease.
Drinks, Drugs, and Other Comforts
It’s possible that using food, booze, or drugs to feel better is a sign of job burnout. This is a potentially dangerous situation. Obesity, as well as alcohol and drug abuse, can cause a variety of health issues.
Burnout and Blood Pressure
If your blood pressure is elevated, your employment might be to blame. Along with it, you may experience a faster heartbeat. Neither is healthy for you. They have the potential to harm not just your heart, but also your brain and kidneys.
Thirsty? Vision Blurred?
Diabetes is characterized by excessive thirst and impaired eyesight. Burnout may increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. If you have these or other diabetic symptoms and are having issues at work that might be connected to burnout, the two may be linked. Inform your doctor if you are experiencing excessive thirst, and get medical attention immediately if you notice any changes in your vision.
The Sick Days Are Piling Up
According to research, burnout can cause both absenteeism and presenteeism (showing up to work even when you’re unwell). It also works the opposite way around. All of those sick days and feeling lousy at work might lead to even greater burnout.
Prevention and Treatment
Although the name “burnout” implies that it is a permanent state, it is not. If a person is feeling burned out, they may need to make some modifications to their work environment. 5
Approaching the human resources department or speaking with a supervisor about workplace difficulties may be beneficial if they are dedicated to building a healthy work environment.
To put a stop to burnout, a change in position or new work may be required in some circumstances.
