Let’s talk about Burnout.
Every day, we hear stories of colleagues, clients and professional connections experiencing burnout. Many of you reading this may have experienced or are on the brink of burnout, considering a recent Deloitte survey revealed that 77 percent of respondents have experienced burnout at their current job. With numbers that high, it’s concerning that 70 percent also felt that their employer isn’t doing enough to alleviate burnout in the workplace.
Burnout can look and feel different to everyone, but there’s no denying how debilitating it can be and that it impacts more than just our quality of work.
Burnout may not be an HR issue, or even an employer issue, but in this blog, we’ll be sharing five actionable ways to help, for yourself and your team.
What is Burnout?
We mentioned that the experience of burnout could be unique to each of us, but it is generally characterized by mental, physical, and/or social exhaustion due to prolonged stress. The World Health Organization classifies burnout as a syndrome with three main symptoms:
- Feelings of exhaustion or energy depletion
- Decreased professional efficacy
- Increased negativity related to your job
These feelings can also manifest physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches, just to name a few. A common myth about burnout is that its only cause is an excessive workload. However, boredom, lack of job control, and lack of support can all be potential leads to burnout.
Signs of Burnout
Are you unsure of whether you may be experiencing or on the brink of burnout? Here are the five most common signs of burnout:
- You feel a sense of dread toward work or life
- You experience frequent feelings of irritability, anger, or cynicism
- You feel disconnected from work or your team
- You notice diminishing compassion toward others
- You feel empty or hopeless
If you relate to any of these, it may be time to seek support. This blog only provides tips to help you prevent burnout, not recovering from it. So, please reach out to your boss, a colleague, family member, friend, or licensed professional for more support and resources for burnout recovery.
5 Tips for Preventing Burnout
Feeling balanced and working sustainably often requires being proactive and creating thoughtful well-being habits. Here are five tips (or habits) that can help you prevent burnout:
1. Recover and Recover Well
Engaging in proper recovery is crucial to preventing burnout! Check out this blog for more detailed and tackle ways of recovering from workplace stress.
2. Prioritize Yourself and Self-Care
It’s OK to be a little selfish sometimes! Self-care is personal and looks different for everyone. Encourage yourself and your team to prioritize health and well-being during the day—whether it’s taking a snack break, stepping outside for fresh air, or simply stepping away from the desk.
Sleep is also critical to preventing burnout. Poor sleep creates a vicious cycle: fatigue leads to stress, and stress leads to worse sleep. Prioritizing sleep benefits not only your health but also your productivity and focus.
3. Seek Connection
Burnout thrives in isolation. Whether you’re an employee or a leader, fostering connections can provide much-needed support. Share your feelings with a friend, coworker, or family member—and encourage others to do the same. For employers, creating opportunities for team-building and open communication can make a big difference.
4. Build Work-Life Boundaries
For remote workers, the lines between work and home can easily blur. Combat this by establishing clear boundaries. Encourage employees to create a dedicated workspace, stick to consistent schedules, and truly disconnect after hours. These practices can boost focus, reduce stress, and promote balance.
5. Value Rest as Much as Work
We celebrate hard work, but rest is just as important. Encourage yourself and your team to embrace breaks, use PTO, and take moments to recharge throughout the day. Rest is what allows us to bring our best selves to work.
More on Well-being
Burnout isn’t just an individual challenge—it’s an organizational one. At Hire Ventures, we’re passionate about helping leaders create workplaces where employees thrive. From supporting well-being initiatives to offering fractional HR services, we partner with businesses to build sustainable, healthy teams.
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