BOOK BERNIE TO SPEAK
TRAINING WITH BERNIE
COACH WITH BERNIE

Are You Burned Out at Work?

Written by Bernie

Bernie Frazier, SPHR is the Founder and President of CAREERCompass, LLC, a speaking and career coaching firm in St. Louis, MO. She also spent almost 25 years recruiting talent to six organizations across four industries and led the talent acquisition function for four of those organizations, including one global team.

Burnout at work is a common phenomenon experienced by many. It typically occurs due to prolonged stress over a period of time, leading to physical, emotional, mental exhaustion, and a loss of interest or enthusiasm in your work. Recognizing the signs of burnout, and taking action to address them, can help prevent it from becoming a chronic issue, leading to long-term consequences.

Here are some of the primary signs of work burnout:

  1. Feel exhausted or depleted, even after a night of restful sleep. This feeling of fatigue is typically persistent and not alleviated by time off work.
  2. A decrease in productivity and efficiency. Burnout often makes it a struggle to concentrate and focus on your work. Your concentration may be there for a few minutes, but then it fades away.
  3. Feel increasingly cynical or negative. This then leads to a general decline in mood. You may find yourself snapping at other people for no reason.
  4. Begin to feel attacks in your physical health. Some of the most common ailments are headaches, stomach problems, or an increase in blood pressure.
  5. Begins to affect your relationships. Whether family member, friend, or significant other, burnout often causes increased stress in the relationship which can lead to more frequent disagreements, outright blow up, or abnormal distancing.

Recognizing the signs of burnout is critical to addressing the issue before it causes long-term damage. If one or more of the signs above is screaming your name, below are some steps you can take to help you:

  1. Take time to reflect on your situation and identify any triggers, such as an unrealistic workload or poor work-life balance.
  2. Set realistic goals and prioritizing tasks can help reduce stress and feelings of overwhelm.
  3. Seek support from coworkers, management, a professional (counselor or coach), friends, or family.
  4. Take time off work for rest and self-care.
  5. Engage in activities, especially physical activities, outside of work.

Making changes may cost you time, money, and effort, but aren’t you and your health worth it?

Until next time….