At some point in nearly anyone’s career, burnout becomes an issue. Even if you adore your field, certain situations can unfold that leave you feeling frustrated, disenchanted, bored, or disengaged. When that’s short-lived, it isn’t typically a problem. However, if those sensations linger, you can end up in trouble.
Fortunately, burnout is conquerable. Here’s a look at the causes and symptoms of burnout and how you can overcome it.
What Causes Burnout
In most cases, burnout is a response to long-term stress, frustration, or boredom at work. This can include challenges arising from the nature of your role and certain aspects of your environment.
For example, tedious, repetitive duties may trigger burnout. The same goes for a toxic environment where bullying is common and a career that seemed like a good match at first but was actually a poor fit. Essentially, any work situation that drags you down long-term and doesn’t seem likely to change could trigger burnout.
Burnout Symptoms
While the causes of burnout are numerous, the symptoms tend to be similar. Often, disengagement is a big sign, as your negative feelings about your situation make you less enthusiastic about your duties. In turn, your productivity generally falls, and the quality of your work might tumble.
However, there are other signs of burnout. Anxiety and depression can both be symptoms of burnout. Increased fatigue, rising irritability, and trouble concentrating can also come with it. In some cases, insomnia, teeth grinding, or other signs of stress can come into play. A sense of dread as Monday approaches may also occur.
How to Overcome Burnout
Completely avoiding burnout during your career isn’t always plausible, mainly because it can arise with seemingly little warning. However, it is possible to stave it off if you plan ahead. Additionally, you can address burnout should it occur to you.
How you need to proceed depends on the cause of your burnout. If you’re constantly bored at work, speaking with your manager about upcoming projects, training opportunities, or a shift in responsibilities could be a way to reinvigorate your professional life. If you’re overburdened, talking with your boss could also be wise, as they may be able to help you recapture a sense of balance.
Practicing self-care is another potentially effective option. If you can reduce stress during your off-time, you may feel better equipped to deal with challenges at work. Similarly, taking a vacation may make a difference, allowing you to step away for a while and, hopefully, return relaxed and recentered.
Finally, if you’re dealing with a toxic environment, an impossible workload that’ll remain in place long-term, or a similar inherent issue with your job, then quitting may be a necessity. The same is true if the reason for your burnout is that your career is actually a bad fit.
Ideally, you want to line up a new opportunity first, allowing you to transition into something better. However, if your health is legitimately in danger, leaving more quickly may be a must.
If you’re suffering from burnout and feel a new job is your best bet, the team at Selectek wants to hear from you. Contact us to learn more about our open positions today.
