What is Job Burnout?

Job Burnout is a special type of work-related stress consisting of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment as well as a loss of personal identity. While Job Burnout is not a medical diagnosis, it is a very real phenomenon which can seriously affect one’s physical and mental health.

As you can probably imagine, job burnout can impact our personal and professional life profoundly, leading to decreased job performance, relationship issues, and even medical complications.

To understand why job burnout can have a devastating impact on our everyday life, we need to look at its signs and symptoms.

Signs of Job Burnout

Job Burnout symptoms can vary in intensity and can include:

• Lack of motivation
• Often thinking about how you should have a better job
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Feeling as if your job is pointless
• Resentment toward your coworkers
• Often feeling fatigued
• A significant decline in work performance
• Having little time or energy for hobbies
• Increased irritability
• Missing deadlines
• Frequently showing up late to work
• Frequently making simple mistakes at work
• Getting into conflicts with coworkers
• Feeling as if your job is pointless

Typically, symptoms of job burnout are mild at first. However, these symptoms are not likely to disappear on their own. If you try to ignore feelings of burnout without addressing it, it is most likely to get worse.

If you are experiencing job burnout know that you are not alone: Nearly two-thirds of workers reported feeling Job Burnout in a 2008 Gallup study. And over 1 in 5 respondents reported feeling burnt out “very often” or “always”.

How is Job Burnout Treated?

When it comes to treatment options, mental health professionals can help cope with the symptoms of burnout.

Therapy

In essence, psychotherapy (or ‘talk’ therapy) helps you get to the bottom of the problem, understand how burnout affects your life, and cultivate healthy habits that will keep the symptoms of burnout at bay.

In general, experts believe therapy is an excellent treatment option for mild forms of depression and anxiety which are often associated with burnout.

Aside from individual therapy, patients suffering from burnout can benefit greatly from a number of other strategies to address the symptoms of burnout in the short term.

Rest

The simplest way to address burnout in the short term is rest. This could take the form of short breaks, meditation, a day off, or a vacation. If you find yourself working extra at night, it will also be a good idea to prioritize sleep. People are more likely to experience burnout when they get few than six hours of sleep per night.

Hobbies and Activities

Schedule something to do when the work day has ended. This will give you something to look forward to, as well as a plan for what to do after work. People who do not have anything to look forward to after work are more likely to experience burnout.

Often talking to a therapist about the struggles your facing at work can help you identify and evaluate what’s important for you.