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It's normal to feel stressed at work from time to time. But for some people, the stress becomes overwhelming, leading to exhaustion, cynicism and hatred towards your work. This is known as burnout.
Burnout was once considered a problem related to life management, but last week the World Health Organization labeled the syndrome as a "professional phenomenon" to better reflect the fact that Burnout is a syndrome of occupational origin caused by chronic stress.
The new dimensions of burnout listed are:
- feelings of exhaustion or exhaustion of energy
- an increased mental distance from work, or feelings of work-related negativity or cynicism
- reduced professional efficiency (work performance).
In the era of smartphones and e-mails 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is increasingly difficult to move away from the workplace and those who have power over us.
The new definition of burnout should be a warning to employers that they are dealing with chronic stress that has not been successfully managed as a health and safety issue at work.
How do you know if you are exhausted?
If you think you are suffering from burnout, ask yourself the following questions:
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did anyone near you ask you to reduce your work?
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In recent months, have you become angry or resentful about your work or your colleagues, clients or patients?
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Do you feel guilty about not spending enough time with friends, family, or even with yourself?
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Do you feel more and more emotional, such as crying, getting angry, screaming or feeling tense for no obvious reason?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, now is the time to make a change.
These questions have been designed for the UK Practitioner Health Program and are a good starting point for all workers to determine if you are at risk of burnout.
(You can also complete the British Medical Association's Burnout Online Questionnaire, although it is suitable for physicians, so the drop-down menu will ask you to choose a medical specialty).
If you think you are suffering from burnout, talk to your line manager or workplace counselor first. Many workplaces now have confidential external psychologists as part of their employee assistance program.
What is causing burnout?
We all have different levels of ability to cope with emotional and physical stress.
When we exceed our ability to cope, something must give; the body becomes stressed if you repent mentally or physically beyond your abilities.
People who suffer from burnout often experience a sense of emotional exhaustion or indifference and may treat their colleagues, clients or patients in a detached or dehumanized manner. They move away from their work and lose the zeal for the career they have chosen.
They could become cynical, less effective at work and lack the desire for personal accomplishment. In the long run, it does not help the person or the organization.
Burnout is not a mental health disorder, but it can lead to more serious problems such as family breakdown, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and drug and alcohol abuse.
Who is most at risk?
Any worker who deals with people can potentially suffer from burnout. This may include teachers, social workers, prison officers or vendors.
Emergency workers, such as police, paramedics, nurses and doctors, are at even greater risk because they work continuously under high stress conditions.
A recent survey of 15,000 US doctors found that 44% had symptoms of burnout. As one neurologist explains:
I'm afraid to come to work. I find myself short when dealing with staff and patients.
A French study of hospital emergency department staff found that one in three (34%) was exhausted due to an excessive workload and a high demand for care.
Lawyers are another profession vulnerable to burnout. In a poll conducted among 1,000 employees of a reputed London law firm, 73% of the lawyers expressed feelings of burnout and 58% attributed this feeling to the need for "burnout." a better balance between work and private life.
Whatever your job, if you are pushed beyond your ability to cope for long periods of time, you risk suffering from burnout.
It's good to say no to more work
Employers have an organizational obligation to promote the well-being of staff and to ensure that it is not overworked, overworked and not burned out.
We can all do something to reduce our own risk of burnout. One is to increase our level of resilience. This means that we are able to respond to stress in a healthy way, bounce back from challenges and become stronger during the process.
You can strengthen your resilience by learning to disconnect, setting boundaries for your work, and thinking more about gambling. As much as possible, protect yourself from workplace interference and prevent it from spreading in your personal life.
Whatever your profession, do not let your work become the only way to define yourself as a person.
And if your job makes you unhappy, consider changing jobs or at least take a look at what else is there. You can surprise yourself.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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