Hello, It’s me Jenn! In the realm of burnout strategy, I find myself at the crossroads of countless stories, each echoing the universal plea for balance and well-being. Organizations, health and wellness ERGs, and employees alike have often reached out, seeking guidance on the delicate art of self-care, particularly in the realms of burnout prevention and recovery.
This year, however, marks a profound shift. The landscape of my consultations has transformed into a canvas painted with urgency and concern. It’s not just the individuals in the trenches of daily work who are knocking at the door of burnout; it’s the top executives and the captains of industries themselves. The narrative has evolved, and the message is clear: burnout, following the relentless waves of the pandemic, is no longer a distant concern; it’s a real, palpable issue staring organizations in the face.
As I navigate through these conversations with high-profile executives, the undercurrent is visceral — signs of burnout are no longer whispers but resounding echoes in the boardrooms and office corridors. The question on everyone’s mind is not merely how to tackle burnout when it emerges but, rather, how to preemptively shield against its onslaught.
Join me in my new blog series called “The Burnout Chronicles” as we delve into the heart of this pressing matter, exploring the shift in dynamics and the heightened awareness around burnout in the wake of the pandemic. It’s a journey that goes beyond individual well-being; it’s a collective call to action for organizations to redefine their approach to employee health and resilience.
Burnout is a serious issue that affects not only the well-being of employees, but also the performance and reputation of organizations. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.
Burnout can have negative consequences for both individuals and organizations. For individuals, burnout can lead to lower productivity, reduced quality of work, increased absenteeism, decreased job satisfaction, and impaired mental health. Burnout can also increase the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and depression. For organizations, burnout can result in high turnover, low morale, poor customer service, reduced profitability, and damaged reputation.
Employers should take burnout seriously and implement strategies to prevent and address it. However, before we discuss some of the strategies that employers can use in another post, let’s first understand why burnout is a problem for both employees and organizations.
Burnout is a problem for employees because it affects their physical and mental health. When employees are burned out, they experience chronic stress that wears down their immune system and makes them more susceptible to illnesses. They may also suffer from headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia, digestive problems, hormonal imbalances, and other symptoms that affect their quality of life. Burnout can also impair their cognitive functions, such as memory, concentration, decision-making, and creativity. Burnout can make employees feel hopeless and helpless about their situation and reduce their self-esteem and confidence.
Burnout also affects our emotional state. When employees are burned out, they can experience emotional exhaustion that drains their energy and enthusiasm. They feel detached from their work tasks and colleagues or customers. They lose interest or pleasure in what they do and become cynical or pessimistic about their future prospects. Burnout can also cause emotional instability that makes employees more prone to mood swings, irritability, anger outbursts or depression.
Burnout is a problem for organizations because it affects their human capital. When employees are burned out, they perform poorly at work and make more mistakes or errors. They also have lower levels of creativity or innovation that can hamper the organization’s growth or competitiveness. Burnout can also reduce employee engagement or commitment to the organization’s goals or values. Burnout can make employees more likely to quit or be fired from their jobs.
Burnout is also a problem for organizations because it affects their organizational culture. When employees are burned out, they create a negative work environment that reflects their dissatisfaction or frustration with their work situation. They may also spread negative attitudes or behaviors among their co-workers or customers that can affect the organization’s reputation or image.
Burnout can also reduce employee loyalty or trust in the organization’s leadership or management. Burnout can make employees more likely to complain or sue the organization for harassment or discrimination. As you can see from these examples, burnout is a serious issue that has negative impacts on both individuals and organizations. It is not something that employers should ignore or dismiss as a minor problem. It is something that employers should acknowledge and address as soon as possible to prevent further damage and restore balance in the workplace.
Next week we will look at strategies organizations can implement in addressing this pressing issue!
Jenn Bruer
References:
[1](https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm)
[2](https://positivepsychology.com/burnout-prevention/)
[3](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/preventing-burnout)
[4](https://psychcentral.com/health/burnout)
[5](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/causes-of-burnout)
[7](https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/signs-burnout-and-how-to-stop-it)
[8](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642)
[9](https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/healthy-diet-for-burnout#1)
[10](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/sleep-tips#sleeping-enough)
[11](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201903/how-build-support-network-workplace)
[12](https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/coping-with-stress.htm#support)