Burnout Is On The Rise

How To Recognise The Signs and Recover

By Koketso Mamabolo

One of the key findings from the State of Workplace Burnout Report 2022 is an alarming one: Burnout is increasing, while wellbeing is declining. How does one recognise the signs of burnout? And how can you deal with it?

What Is Burnout?

In the World Health Organisation’s 2019 International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), burnout was defined as, “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

They Identify Three Dimensions:

• Exhaustion or lack of energy

• Feeling mentally disconnected from your role

• A decrease in effeciency / productivity

The State of Workplace Burnout Report found that the only age group which saw a decrease in burnout was the 45 - 54 age group. Interestingly, people with entry-level experience and those at the executive / senior management level both saw an increase in burnout. The report highlights how there has been a drop in organisation support from 2021 to 2022. There seems to be a strong correlation between burnout and a lack of support from the organisation one finds themselves in. It further highlights that organisations with people-first policies have an edge in the jobs market.

The latest Work Trend Index Annual Report reinforces this point, noting that 43% of employees will consider switching jobs this year, with a greater emphasis on organisational support, meaningful work which is in line with personal values and flexible working arrangements. The report boldly states that, “Preventing burnout will be the most significant factor that determines if an organisation survives or thrives in the coming decade.”

Some More Statistics From The Report:

• 50% of people feel less productive when experiencing burnout

• 38% Experience all three dimensions of burnout

• 49% Feel more engaged when not experiencing burnout

What Causes Burnout?

The State of Burnout Report mentions five indicators: An overwhelming workload, little to no organisational support, values not aligning, being treated unfairly and ‘toxic’ behaviour from leaders.

The first, an unmanageable workload, is perhaps the aspect people think of most. This can happen for many reasons including understaffing, inconsiderate leaders and deadline pressure. “When work feels burdensome and endless, even high-performing people can shift from engaged to hopeless,” reads the report. “This can happen imperceptibly over a period of time or all of a sudden.”

Signs That You’re Doing Too Much

While burnout has both a physical and mental impact (which are intertwined in many ways), there are a few obvious signs that you’re working too hard and not resting enough. The physical signs include:

• Insomia

• Muscle pain

• Weight gain

• Frequent illness

• Headaches

• Stomach aches

The mental and behavioural signs can be less obvious with those around you, such as colleagues and family. These can take different forms, including a pessimistic and cynical outlook, feelings of isolation, self-doubt, a lack of motivation and satisfaction, poor performance, procrastination, emotional outbursts, irritability and using coping mechanisms such as food, drugs and alcohol.

How To Recover From Burnout

Recovering from burnout can take anywhere from weeks to years, depending on the severity, but recognising that you have it is an important first step. Seeing a therapist can help with mental and behavioural problems. A therapist can point you towards healthy coping mechanisms and afford you the opportunity to clear your mind and identify underlying issues that may be contributing to feelings of isolation, self-doubt etc.

It’s also important to sit and gauge your priorities, seeing what you can add or subtract from your daily routine to allow you more breathing room. It’s easy to get trapped in an endless cycle of deadlines with too much energy spent on the urgent and unimportant tasks.

If you’re a leader in your organisation, consider delegating some tasks (keeping in mind the workload others may have). If you’re a member of a team, check to see if any of your teammates can help you complete the tasks that are taking the most out of you.

Finding a work-life balance is also key. Working overtime, taking work home with you and working on the weekend doesn’t give you time to detach and focus on your own personal life. You need to ‘protect your peace’ by setting boundaries. ‘Me time’ has never been more important.