Oh, the irony. It’s 12:30am and I’m writing this blog post because it needs to be done before tomorrow morning. I know my calendar is full for the day and I also know that I need to be up in five hours to start that very. Long. Day.
But instead of sleeping, I’m writing this blog post. And I’m excited… Because it’s something that needs to be talked about.
I hear all the time (and read regularly) about people being burnt out. They feel disconnected from their work. They can’t focus anymore. They begin to resent their job – even if they used to really enjoy it.
Sometimes this burnout can last a day or two… Other times it can take MONTHS. Sometimes even years.
So why is this the case? Why is burnout becoming such an epidemic in our society? I’ve narrowed it down to eight different factors.
Being overwhelmed & overworked.
So many people work LONG hours. They spend more time at work than they do at home and their work/life balance is way off scale. Their to-do lists continue to grow, and emails pile up – even when they’re working long hours! They’re overworked. And this makes them overwhelmed.
Inadequate pay.
“They don’t pay me enough…” Have you heard this before? This point has been around longer than I have, but it’s an important factor to mention. If you’re working your butt off every day, putting your heart, sweat, and tears into everything you do, and your paycheque doesn’t match the amount of work you’re putting in, then it’s easy to get discouraged.
Poor management.
Have you ever had a manager that wasn’t very good at managing and leader their team? This is so common! Studies show that people don’t typically quit their jobs. They quit their management. People will leave their jobs because they can’t deal with the management. I know I’ve been there!
Having to do the same tedious task repeatedly.
Punch in. Punch out. If every day you are doing the exact same task, life can get boring. Partner that with inadequate pay or poor management and you’ve got a perfect recipe for burnout!
Bringing homework with you.
In today’s society and with the ability to telecommute, working from home is a lot more common. It’s easy to pull up your email or just finish that one last report from home. But over time, this little habit can take over your home life and shatter your work/life balance! If you do need to work from home, set guidelines. At a certain time of night, shut off your work. For me, I try not to work in bed. That way my bed is sacred – just for my sleep.
Stress.
Soooo much stress. Stress is so common for people in the workplace. A lot of the above factors are typically the reason for the stress in the first place. Excessive amounts of stress can not only cause burnout but can also cause physical symptoms and illness. It’s important to pinpoint what is causing the stress and deal with it. Whether it be by resolving the issue, making a life change or removing it completely.
Fear of saying their needs then losing their jobs.
“Dear boss. I need a mental health day.”
Someone wrote this in an email and it went viral. Why? Because it’s what so many people wish they could say to their employers. Sometimes you just need a day to relax and recover. But unfortunately, not every employer is as understanding as this women’s boss.
Lack of sleep.
The average person needs approx. 6-8 hours of sleep a night. But the average person gets 40% LESS sleep than needed. Sleep is so important for your body to rest, recover and reset. There are physical and mental repercussions for when you don’t get enough sleep. And one of them can be burnout.
Do you feel like you’re suffering from burnout? Take some time off – even if its one day. Disconnect from work and take a day for yourself. Allow your body and mind to rest and reset.
Take a look at your life… Are any of these eight factors triggering your burnout? Take actionable steps to stop the burnout from consuming your life.
Defying Shadows 