In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), Burnout is defined as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
(Source: Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases)
The questions to ask ourselves are:-
Do I struggle with work-life balance?
Do I find myself exhausted from the heavy workload and long working hours?
Do I find myself caught up in the rat race and can’t find a way out?
If the answer to any of the questions is Yes then you may be on the verge of Job Burnout.
Like many other things we choose to ignore, Job burnout can also have detrimental effects if left unaddressed for a long time.
But what is it that leads to burnout?
Work-Life Imbalance
I struggle with it every day. And I know many others do. We fail to give as much time and effort to our family and friends as we offer to our work.
We are too busy to meet friends, go on a vacation, and give time to personal care and family.
Many people cannot afford to control such situations. Many who can, get caught up in the rat race and realise what they have lost only when it is too late.
When it comes to work-life and personal life, the imbalance is not because we think one is more important than the other. It is because when we commit to two things, we have to be present for both. After all, both will demand our attention.
That is where we fail. That is where we choose to let people at home suffer and sacrifice our time to fulfil our commitment to work.
The problem is not that we are ambitious and hard-working. It is problematic only when our passion and vision take us no further than a few years of success and recognition. In the long run, we are left worn-out, unhappy and unsatisfied.
Solution
We need to be mature and keep a conversation with our families about our work-life imbalance. Our families must understand our situation when we fail to attend important events.
Similarly, the companies we work for need to be sensitive enough to understand when we need time off. When organisations care for their employees, and it is evident that the concern is genuine, employees remain sincere and loyal to the organisation.
We all face different scenarios. Hence, our solutions can work differently. However, a work-life imbalance, if neglected for a long period can make us lose interest in both our work life and personal life. As a result, we can lose interest in life itself.
Solving work-life imbalance is not leaving one for the other. We ought to be able to manage our work and personal arrangements such that neither suffers due to our negligence. We all need balance and it is ultimately we who have to find it instead of choosing a side.
Negative Workplace dynamics
Toxic work culture and poor leadership can lead to job stress and cause burnout. When the boss is a bully and the colleagues are undermining there is less job fulfilment and more mental stress.
Nothing is more demotivating for a devoted professional than negative workplace dynamics.
To be realistic, there is office politics in almost every organisation. Some people survive in a workplace through the years as a result of finding groups in which they can crib and cry together.
Some people drag themselves up from bed and go to an office to work just to earn a salary and pay bills. Often when ambitious interns or freshers interact which such people all they get to hear are complaints. No offence to the people who work just for the money but when the organisation is entirely consumed by such employees, there’s no motivating factor for new employees.
When there are too many rules in the workplace and most of them restrict the employees from working freely or giving their hundred per cent then the system soon crashes and work results are seldom fulfilling.
Solution
In a workplace, mistakes need to be pointed out but it doesn’t mean that we have to put someone down in the process. One of the biggest wrongs done in any organisation which results in creating negative workplace dynamics, is the way mistakes are managed or corrected.
Instead of pointing fingers, we need to support each other. When pointing out mistakes, our tones need to be that of a concerned mentor and not of an aggressive boss.
Even if major mistakes are made, we should all rush to find the solution rather than trying to find whose responsibility it was.
Similarly, employers need to be wise in dealing with employees. Some situations in a workplace may demand objective solutions while some may need a subjective intervention.
No one loves to stay in a negative environment. If any positivity can be found in a negative place, it has to be nourished and spread. Little things can make us keep going if we can draw ourselves out from negativity.
The best solution is to find a positive group of colleagues who lift one another up and focus on the good things.
Monotonous and Uninspiring Job
Monotonous jobs where one has to do the same routine work can lead to fatigue and burnout.
Routine jobs can retain employees mostly when they have a larger purpose or involve frequent creative input. If your job does not motivate you and you constantly struggle to remain focused one day you might break down.
Solution
The solution to this problem can be tricky as most of our jobs can get monotonous over time. However, there can always be a way through which employers can keep their employees inspired and motivated.
If the profession itself is not interesting enough, inspiring presentations and activities can be included in the system. No one wants to stagnate with a regular duty. People want to grow and know more. And such scope should always be presented to them in a working environment.
Lack of control at work
We do not need to control everything at work. But we do need to have a say in the workload and decisions that affect our jobs.
If we have to struggle to find the resources with which we can do our work, our genuine efforts to accomplish a task can fail.
This can cause irritability and eventually cause burnout.
When employers are themselves insecure and cynical, nothing good comes from the employees of the organisation. Employees can hardly trust such organisations where they are not given enough opportunity to grow or take decisions.
Solution
Everyone in a workplace holds responsibility and everyone is expected to achieve their objective in a stipulated time. However, when fulfilling a task requires decision-making and such authority is absent, then an employee can be left confused and helpless. When no or partial authority is given to a sincere employee, organisations don’t realise the success they envision and also fail to retain good employees.
The solution lies in proper human resource management. Employees should have control over the task they need to complete. Responsibility and authority work hand in hand. Employees should be able to ask for it and employers should know when and who to give authority to.
Unclear Job Expectations & Lack of Support
I remember the experience I had when I first took a job. There was no hand-holding and no systematic training to help me understand what I was supposed to do. It took me weeks to understand my duty and yet there were hundreds of things unclear to me.
Initially, I also felt a lack of support as everyone around me was too busy with deadlines to be concerned with me. Being a meek person myself, even I could not approach people for help or support.
I lost confidence and was sure I would not be able to survive in a corporate work environment. It is only when I started learning more, understanding my job expectations and finding support from colleagues that the scenario changed for me.
We see dozens of new employees entering our workplace and leaving every month or year. People leave for various reasons but two of them can be unclear job expectations and lack of support at work.
Some people suffer burnout as a result of trying hard to understand but never really getting what is expected of them. And secondly, some remain a ghost and get no support or help.
Solution
There is a lack of leadership in many organisations where supervisors fail to make job expectations clear.
On top of that, there is hardly any support to make an employee feel comfortable. When we find ourselves isolated, ignored or confused at work, we embark on the path which can lead to burnout.
Employees do not always look for awards and recognition or praise and credit. Sometimes, all a person needs at work is someone approachable. Asking for help should not be discouraged and ensuring that the help is available should be a priority for proper human resource management.
CONCLUSION
The factors which lead to burnout can be difficult to manage. However, it should not be left unaddressed for long. When it is job burnout it is important that we evaluate our options.
If it is something which can be managed from our end itself, we must take action to prevent it. We can try and get proper sleep, take a break or vacation, change food habits, practice mindfulness, exercise and indulge in relaxing activities.
But if you have tried and exhausted all options mentioned above, then don’t hesitate to seek support. Talk to your boss or management and find a way out so that no end of your life suffers. If they genuinely get your problem, they will help you out with an option. If they don’t care, then you ought to divert your passion to an organisation where the work culture is not toxic.
Burnout can seem like usual stress but if it becomes a part of life, it can drive us into depression.
Perhaps we will always have to endure job stress. But at the end of it, our jobs should be fulfilling. W do not deserve to endure the consistent despair which comes out of tireless labour.
We will always find a way out or make choices to overcome situations. It is important that the sacrifices we make help us achieve a peaceful state of mind in the long run.
“When you have balance in your life, work becomes an entirely different experience. There is a passion that moves you to a whole new level of fulfillment and gratitude, and that’s when you can do your best… for yourself and for others.”
– Cara Delevingne