There are many ways to cope with job burnout: take a mini-vacation or extended leave of absence, get assigned to a different department, or quit your job and find a different career path. Not too many of us can simply retire and move to a tropical country - though I bet that's crossed your mind!
Before you can cope with job burnout, you must first learn how to recognized the signs of exhaustion. If you notice these symptoms of burnout stress, you may need to make a significant change at work or home…
Strong Emotional Reactions: Anger, Irritation, Frustration
Do you overreact to the smallest things, such as losing your keys? Here’s a great example from Marc Silver, author of Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) during Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond. “Once, I yelled at my kids because they didn’t help as I dragged groceries from the car on a rainy afternoon. My older daughter said, ‘Gee, Dad, if you’d just ask, we’d be happy to help.’” While Silver wasn’t specifically describing job burnout, his example of “losing it” is a well-known sign of exhaustion at home. People who are burning out are often easily irritated, frustrated, and even enraged.
Personal, Social, and Relationship Neglect
When was the last time you visited your doctor, dentist, massage therapist, or chiropractor? What about your family and friends – are you spending as much time with them as you or they’d like? Do you exercise regularly or take time out for hobbies or weekends away from the routine? With job burnout comes neglect – self-neglect as well as the neglect of personal relationships. If you don’t feel like you have the time or energy to take care of the “details” – which are important parts of life! – then you may be suffering from exhaustion.
Unusual Thought Patterns, Memory Problems, Trouble Thinking Clearly
These signs of exhaustion can be frightening because they affect how you think and relate to the world and people: inability to make decisions, lack of concentration or focus, loss of interest in activities, people, and life. Job burnout can lead to self-criticism, self-blame, self-loathing, and even depression. If you think you're depressed, read Am I Depressed? Common Signs of Depression.
Health Issues, Due to Increased Stress and Physical Exhaustion
Weight loss or gain, sleeplessness, chronic health problems, and constantly fighting colds or the flu could be signs of job burnout. Chronic stress can cause inflammation in the joints, compromise your immune system, and make you vulnerable to health ailments. If you’re having health problems, your body may be unable to heal because it’s constantly physically exhausted.
Recognizing the signs of burnout on the job is the first step to coping with it! The second step is finding ways to overcome exhaustion. For tips on coping with burnout at work, read How Do I Get Rid of Stress? The Best Ways to Calm Nervous Anxiety.
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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