Signs of Burnout at Work and What to Do About It

Our jobs, whatever they may be, take up much of our lives. Not only does it take time to get educated or trained for whatever vocation we pursue, but once we start working, a significant amount of time is taken up with it until we retire from it. Work itself is a blessing and was part of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2). However, work isn’t all joyful or fulfilling in our broken world; in fact, it has become “painful toil” (Genesis 3:17, NIV) and burnout at work is common.

The possibility of burnout is there for anyone who works. Work burnout is a serious risk for any worker, but thankfully there are ways to prevent it and recover from it when it occurs.

Burnout at Work Explored

When you work, you exert your body and mind to meet the task set before you. The average workday comes with emotional highs and lows, and it will have points of stress and relief. Our bodies and minds need to rest to recover from the rigors of work so that we can face similar challenges the next day. Many things can cause exhaustion at work, but when you don’t rest adequately, it can result in work burnout.

Burnout at work can be described as the state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that results from being overworked, stressed, and lacking the appropriate balance between work and life over a prolonged period. Work burnout can happen to anyone working in any profession. It is often a signal that something in your work life needs to change to give you more balance.

There are several different reasons why work burnout happens. Work burnout can be caused by lacking control and autonomy in your workplace. Some work situations are quite rigid, and you don’t have room to be creative or make decisions, leading to frustration. Another reason for work burnout is having an excessive workload and long hours. Too much work done over an extended period without room for rest is another reason people burn out at work.

You might not work excessively long hours or have a huge workload, but if you have a poor work-life balance, it could also lead to work burnout. Having unclear expectations and conflicting priorities in the workplace, perhaps between the management team and other employees, is another possible cause. Similarly, an unsupportive work environment and lack of resources, as well as a lack of recognition and rewards can cause burnout.

Work burnout can also result from your own perfectionism and high expectations. You may be putting significantly more effort into tasks than is necessary. This increases your stress levels as well as the strain that comes from deadline pressures. Lastly, someone can burn out in a workplace if you have values and ethos that clash with your colleagues or your organization.

Some Signs and Effects of Burnout at Work

Work burnout impacts your relationship with yourself, your colleagues, and your work.

Work burnout affects you mentally, emotionally, and physically. Some of the signs of work burnout to look out for include the following:

• Cynicism about and detachment from your work.
• Feeling chronic fatigue.
• Experiencing reduced productivity and performance.
• Experiencing reduced creativity and desire or ability to innovate.
• Having a loss of motivation and interest in your work.
• Increased absenteeism from work, and having a high turnover between jobs.
• Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems, and sleep disturbances.
• Going through mood changes, irritability, and depression connected with your work.
• Having strained relationships with your colleagues and family.
• Experiencing feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

If you recognize one or more of these symptoms of work burnout in yourself, it may mean you need to address your work-life balance or rearrange some things at work.

How to Prevent and Managing Work Burnout

Work burnout can be mild, moderate, or severe in its effects on you. It can be managed as well as prevented, and some of the steps below can help with that.

Prioritizing self-care and stress management

Don’t allow work and life stress to build up. Take breaks and time off so that you can rest. Exercise regularly, get decent quality sleep, and eat a healthy diet that will give you the fuel you need to handle your day well. Self-care and stress management also require taking steps like setting work boundaries and prioritizing tasks to stay on task without overburdening yourself.

Re-evaluate your priorities and values

Work burnout, or the prospect of it, allows you to consider where there might be areas of misalignment in your life. Consider if you’re in the right place, doing the kind of work that energizes you, or if you need to boost your skills to do your current job.

Seek support

You can’t do everything by yourself, and you could benefit from seeking support from colleagues, mentors, and professionals such as a counselor or life coach. These individuals can help you with pointers to become more effective at work, as well as in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. With support, you can make appropriate changes in your life so that you can prevent and manage burnout.

Next steps

If you are ready to speak to a counselor about your stress at work, call us at Keller Christian Counseling in Texas. We have several trained Christian counselors in Keller, Texas who are eager to meet with you and begin your journey to a more fulfilling life.