Burnout is a topic I’ve been speaking about and counselling clients on frequently. According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), burnout is defined as a “syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” I’ve observed a growing number of our clients reach this state of mental and physical exhaustion.
Those who reach a state of burnout describe feelings of exhaustion, depletion, and increased negativity and cynicism toward their work, eventually losing confidence in their abilities. Sadly, they start to believe that things will never get better.
Organizations play a major role in burnout prevention by creating healthy cultures and developing leaders who help people flourish. Unfortunately, many organizations rely on quick fixes rather than addressing the actual culprits that contribute to burnout. They often implement what I call “band-aid solutions” to “fix stressed out people”, overlooking the unhealthy environment their people are working within and failing to adopt appropriate changes.
Prioritizing Your Burnout Prevention
A colleague of mine once said that people are like rechargeable batteries, not laptops that can be left plugged in constantly. When it comes to us as individuals, we need to shut off and recharge our finite energy reserves.
To effectively recharge our battery, we should consider starting with one small thing in each of these categories:
- Physical (e.g., going for a walk outside, doing a yoga class, practicing good sleep hygiene)
- Mental (e.g., listening to a Dr. Laura 😊 podcast, reading)
- Social (e.g., walking with a friend: double points for physical and social!)
- Spiritual (e.g., meditation, journalling)
Seeking support from a psychologist, psychotherapist, or clinical counsellor, whether in person or online, can help you address and understand workplace stress, and prevent it from burning you out.
