While there are many situations in life that can cause you to burn out (caring for elderly parents while holding down a full-time job might do it). Burnout is commonly associated with unrelenting stress caused by the type of work you do or by the type of environment you work in.
Burnout sneaks up on you. It’s like the story of the frog in the jar…if the frog is in the jar before the water is introduced s/he might not notice as the water heats up slowly…until it is too late and s/he finds him/herself in a jar of boiling water.
Of course if you put the frog into the boiling water s/he would jump out immediately…we hope.
It is the same at work. We often keep working under pressure long after it is healthy for us to do so.
Burnout can happen to anyone. It was originally thought to occur in people such as fire fighters and social workers but now…it is understood that burnout can occur to anyone…given the right (wrong?) conditions.
Burnout is characterized by:
- fatique
- frustration
- feelings of inadequacy
- anger
- despair
- etc. etc.
Of course not everyone in a high stress job will experience burnout.
What causes it?
- too mand demands and not enough time
- not being qualified (lacking the requisite knowledge, skills and experience to do the job)
- not being recognized for your efforts
- negative boss, co-workers, clients
The signs of burnout include…irritability, problems sleeping, increased alcohol and/or drug use, tearfulness, snappiness and feeling helpless.
There are a few things you can do if you are noticing any of these signs. The first thing you could do is take a quiz and if it looks as if you are burned out or on your way you might want to seek the help of a counsellor or a coach.
Good luck!
Lesley
PS Lance Secretan has a lot of cool resources on his site…check them out!
