How To Recover From Burnout and Find Balance

Updated on August 14, 2019

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Having one too many bad days at work? You're burning out!

What is Burnout?

A state of being in prolonged stress resulting in:

Emotional exhaustionFeelings of bleaknessFeelings of helplessness

Hallmarks: Mental, physical and emotional exhaustionBurnout leaves you feeling psychologically drainedWorkplace burnout is the most common type

You are not alone:Of the 196,904,000 working Americans61% feel burned out at their jobs29% feel tired all the time26% struggle with insomnia18% experience weight gain15% deal with depression

Symptoms

You might be on the Burnout Train if you...

Have become overly cynical or criticalOften force yourself to get on top of your tasksConsistently have to motivate yourself to go to workAre short-fused with colleagues, clients or customersDrastically change your eating and drinking habitsHave a hard time being thankful for your job

Causes

You may be heading for the Burnout Express if...

...you constantly take actions at work that clash with your personality or beliefs...carrying out daily tasks or responsibilities feels mundane...job roles or responsibilities have no clear boundaries...your expectations are way too high (unrealistic goals destroy your self-esteem when you fall short)...work environment is caustic or unsupportive...workload significantly outweighs paycheck...there are too many tasks vs too little time...underappreciation is a nagging concern...you hate your job but can't quit it...your home life is tumultuous

Professionals in helping fields such as healthcare, counseling or teaching are more prone to burning out.

Least Stressful Places to Live

Stuttgart, GermanyLuxembourg City, LuxembourgHanover, GermanyBern, SwitzerlandMunich, Germany

Most Stressful Places to Live

Baghdad, IraqKabul, AfghanistanLagos, NigeriaDakar, SenegalCairo, Egypt

The United States ranks 54th in the world for stress levels

Who is Affected by Burnout?

Burnout effects are felt at all levels:

69% mid-level management (supervisors,team leads,managers)61% entry level professionals58% technical staff43% senior management

Burnout Rates by Generation and Gender

Who feels burned out at their current jobs?

86% Millennials76% Older, more experienced people

Who is more affected by stress at work?

34% Women / 27% Men

Occupations With the Highest Burnout Rates

MedicineNursingSocial workTeachingSchool leadershipLaw (Attorneys)Law EnforcementPublic AccountingFast FoodRetail

There is a strong link between burnout and depression; 90% of workers with full-blown burnout meet diagnostic criteria for depression.

Effects

Boarding the Burnout Bus

Burnout impacts your professional and personal life

Short Term Effects:

Impacts productivity levelsLow performanceAbsenteeism at workCommitment to work is minimalJob satisfaction is impacted

Long Term Effects

Deterioration in healthHeart diseaseDiabetesDepressionAnxietyInsomniaRapid agingDecreases longevityNegatively impacts relationships

Burnout creeps up on you—you usually don't see it until it's too late!

Recovery

To leave the Burnout Depot:

Deliberately seek a work-life balanceStrive to work smartHone your time management skillsUtilize organizing tools-tons out there!Prioritize & outline your tasksKick your heels up, take vacations!!

Other Tips:

Take breaks from social mediaDelegate tasks when you canMake positivity your mantraEnvision a future better youUnwind regularlySeek a better job fitRethink your personal goalsMeditate regularlyExercise as often as possibleEngage in workplace relaxation activitiesMaintain a loving and supportive support network

Burnout is not a permanent condition―you can it beat by deliberate and simple lifestyle changes!

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