How to Identify Worker Burnout
Burnout is complete exhaustion characterized by a loss of motivation. Although stress, anxiety and depression may co-exist, burnout is a distinct condition. Therefore, identifying burnout can be tricky. In fact, burnout is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) of Mental Disorders. It is important to note that burnout is a unique type of job stress caused by a number of factors in the working environment, such as excessive workload, lack of control and lack of reward. It is also important to know how to identify burnout, since it puts your health at risk.
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Instructions
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Mental and emotional exhaustion are generally the first and most pervasive symptoms of burnout. Therefore, when you have a few minutes to yourself, think about the major sources of the stress in your life. Determine if any one of the sources is work-related. If so, are you overextending yourself at work? Do you feel drained from work?
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Exhausted people tend to withdraw from others. Therefore, reflect on the current status of your relationships with your co-workers as well as your family and friends. Have any of these relationships been strained over the past few weeks due to your exhaustion? Have you become irritable around others? Have you avoided social functions because you were either too tired to attend or did not feel like being around others?
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After you are withdrawn from others, the focus is solely on yourself and your accomplishments. Has the quality or quantity of your work decreased? Do you feel incapable of completing the tasks given to you successfully? Are you no longer motivated at work?
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In order to identify burnout from stress, anxiety or depression, you may have to take a mental health day off or two. Besides, taking time away from your working environment to relax is essential to be a productive worker. When you return to work after having a few days off, do your symptoms return or worsen?
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If you answered yes to the questions presented in the first four steps, notify your doctor. There may be an underlying medical condition, or it may be psychological. You may be able to treat your symptoms by taking time off from work, seeing a therapist or taking medication. However, if you are still burned out even after you got rest and sought treatment, you may need to find a more suitable job. Request a transfer in your company if possible. Otherwise, look elsewhere for employment.
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Tips & Warnings
Burnout is caused by the work enviroment, which shapes how co-workers interact and perform job functions. Therefore, you should not blame yourself for feeling burned out.
If work is causing you to burn out, seek help immediately. If symptoms are left untreated, headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, gastrointestinal illness or upper respiratory illness can occur.
