The daily demands of our jobs are continuing to increase and for many, the line between our work and personal life is getting a lot more blurry. While there may be times when things feel stressful at work, how do you know when it is starting to become a significant issue in your organization? When does the word burnout begin to enter the conversation?
Burnout can look different for everyone, but there are some common red flags that both employers and staff should put on their radar.
Taking steps early to prevent burnout not only protects your team's mental health and wellbeing, it also impacts your bottom line. One in three workplace disability claims in Canada is related to mental illnesses, which also accounts for 70 percent of total disability costs, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
In addition, the total cost of mental health concerns in Canadian workplaces is over $50 billion a year.
These numbers should be enough to start putting workload management and Psychological Health and Safety on your priority list.
So now we know the impact it can have, how do we recognize the signs of burnout in ourselves and our staff and what can we do about it?
The What
The B word - how does it look and feel?
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It can look like:
- Lack of motivation, focus, and pleasure in your job.
- Feeling easily frustrated or irritable, helplessness, and hopelessness.
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, trouble sleeping, stomach issues, fatigue and more frequent absences from work.
The Why
What can cause burnout?
Burnout can be caused by many factors and they are often part of a larger wellness picture.
These factors can include:
- Overwhelming workload or unclear expectations
- Lack of control over when and how work is completed
- Unsupportive work environments or feeling like you can't share concerns around workload or wellbeing
- Isolation or lack of connection with co-workers or leadership
- Lack of recognition or advancement opportunities
- Doing work that doesn't align with your values
The How
Taking the right steps
So what can you do now if you start noticing these signs in yourself or your employees? There are some simple ways to get started:
- Prioritize workload management - identify the most mission-critical tasks and reallocate deadlines on the rest. Practice timeblocking techniques to get those little wins on smaller tasks.
- Build a support network - connect with coworkers, family and friends who you can share your concerns with.
- Make work-life balance a priority - set boundaries around work hours and log off completely. It is okay to say no!
- Pursue hobbies and interests outside of work that create relaxation and fill your emotional cup (spend time in nature, take a class, read, listen to music, practice mindfulness etc.)
- Find support through your employee and family assistance plan or benefits - consider taking a medical leave if your burnout has become severe.
- Seek professional care if you feel like your mental health concerns are overwhelming
- Don't try to just "power through" if you are struggling.
Finding the right next step
Thriving Workplaces can help your organization identify the pinch points contributing to employee burnout and mental health concerns and help you create strategies for a healthy and productive workplace culture where everyone feels supported.
Get in touch to book a FREE 20-minute conversation on creating actionable mental health strategies that create real change.
