{"id":30450,"date":"2022-07-22T06:57:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T06:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=30450"},"modified":"2022-07-23T11:19:35","modified_gmt":"2022-07-23T11:19:35","slug":"5-ways-to-deal-with-burnout-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/5-ways-to-deal-with-burnout-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to deal with burnout at work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Claudine Mangen<\/a>, Concordia University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work has become an around-the-clock activity, courtesy of the pandemic and technology that makes us reachable anytime, anywhere. Throw in expectations to deliver fast and create faster and it becomes hard to take a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not surprisingly, many of us are feeling burned out<\/a>. Burnout \u2014 which often affects women more than men<\/a> \u2014 happens everywhere. Particularly challenged during the pandemic<\/a>, however, are teachers<\/a> and healthcare workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we know burnout happens and that a lot of us are experiencing it<\/a>, but how can we get out of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burnout is a serious problem that deserves all of our attention. My research, which studies employees across various organizations and the work practices they engage in, helps me understand how to address common widespread problems like burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Set boundaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People need and are entitled to boundaries<\/a>. We don\u2019t have to avail ourselves 24\/7 for work,<\/a> despite societal pressures that make us feel like we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must rest for the sake of our health, including our sleep<\/a>, eating habits<\/a>, physical well-being<\/a> and quality of life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to also remember that people around us can be affected<\/a> when we don\u2019t set boundaries. For example, burnout among nurses is associated with lower quality patient care and lower commitment<\/a> to the workplace. Loved ones can be affected too. We can take stress from work home and be angrier, less supportive to and more withdrawn from<\/a> our spouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Stick to contractual engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check your employment contract or collective agreement. Figure out how much you\u2019re expected to work, what you have to deliver and stick to it: work won\u2019t love you back<\/a> no matter how much you give.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re entitled to vacation, take it. The same principle holds for sick leave: if you\u2019re entitled to it, take it when you are unwell so you can get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Prioritize yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You need to know and be mindful<\/a> of who you are, what you want and how you spend your days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself why you do your work and what you wish to get out of it. What are you willing to sacrifice to get there, and what not? What else in your life is crucial? What do you not want to regret later?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take time to think through these questions and how your life aligns with your priorities. Do your days mirror your preferences? If not, why and how not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about what you can change, try to spend your days differently and observe the result. If something works better, integrate it into your daily rituals; if not, try something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Someone
Burnout isn\u2019t an individual problem. (Abbie Bernet\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Talk about burnout at work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is only so much we can do individually to address burnout, which is far from a unique problem<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As employees we need to question, rethink and repair organizations that generate overwork \u2014 it is important to not only have these conversations with yourself, friends and family but in the workplace<\/a> too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizations should want to address burnout since it isn\u2019t good for them and leads to higher employee turnover and lost revenue related to lower productivity<\/a>. But organizations are difficult to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They often can\u2019t or don\u2019t want to see how they\u2019re the problem<\/a>. And they respond by proposing individual solutions<\/a> to what is a collective, systemic problem \u2014 wellness programs and yoga classes won\u2019t help with overwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have the energy to try and address organizational overwork, start small. You can talk to trusted colleagues about their experiences and share stories, which helps raise awareness about how burnout is a collective larger issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Acknowledge this isn\u2019t a you problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A more significant role falls on leaders who have the power and resources to change work. If their employees burn out, it\u2019s because they are OK with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsible leaders should reach out to employees to inquire about burnout. They should understand<\/a> how their organization contributes to it. This might involve asking how work is set up<\/a>, how information technology affects work<\/a> and how employees are \u2014 or aren\u2019t \u2014 supported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders set the tone<\/a> and model what is acceptable \u2014 like overworking or taking time for yourself. Ultimately, if overwork is ingrained in company culture, we need to realize that the problem is the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burnout is serious problem that deserves all of our attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudine Mangen<\/a>, RBC Professor in Responsible Organizations and Associate Professor, Concordia University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudine Mangen<\/a>, Concordia University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work has become an around-the-clock activity, courtesy of the pandemic and technology that makes us reachable anytime, anywhere. Throw in expectations to deliver fast and create faster and it becomes hard to take a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not surprisingly, many of us are feeling burned out<\/a>. Burnout \u2014 which often affects women more than men<\/a> \u2014 happens everywhere. Particularly challenged during the pandemic<\/a>, however, are teachers<\/a> and healthcare workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we know burnout happens and that a lot of us are experiencing it<\/a>, but how can we get out of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burnout is a serious problem that deserves all of our attention. My research, which studies employees across various organizations and the work practices they engage in, helps me understand how to address common widespread problems like burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Set boundaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People need and are entitled to boundaries<\/a>. We don\u2019t have to avail ourselves 24\/7 for work,<\/a> despite societal pressures that make us feel like we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must rest for the sake of our health, including our sleep<\/a>, eating habits<\/a>, physical well-being<\/a> and quality of life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to also remember that people around us can be affected<\/a> when we don\u2019t set boundaries. For example, burnout among nurses is associated with lower quality patient care and lower commitment<\/a> to the workplace. Loved ones can be affected too. We can take stress from work home and be angrier, less supportive to and more withdrawn from<\/a> our spouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Stick to contractual engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check your employment contract or collective agreement. Figure out how much you\u2019re expected to work, what you have to deliver and stick to it: work won\u2019t love you back<\/a> no matter how much you give.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re entitled to vacation, take it. The same principle holds for sick leave: if you\u2019re entitled to it, take it when you are unwell so you can get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Prioritize yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You need to know and be mindful<\/a> of who you are, what you want and how you spend your days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself why you do your work and what you wish to get out of it. What are you willing to sacrifice to get there, and what not? What else in your life is crucial? What do you not want to regret later?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take time to think through these questions and how your life aligns with your priorities. Do your days mirror your preferences? If not, why and how not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about what you can change, try to spend your days differently and observe the result. If something works better, integrate it into your daily rituals; if not, try something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Someone
Burnout isn\u2019t an individual problem. (Abbie Bernet\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Talk about burnout at work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is only so much we can do individually to address burnout, which is far from a unique problem<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As employees we need to question, rethink and repair organizations that generate overwork \u2014 it is important to not only have these conversations with yourself, friends and family but in the workplace<\/a> too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizations should want to address burnout since it isn\u2019t good for them and leads to higher employee turnover and lost revenue related to lower productivity<\/a>. But organizations are difficult to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They often can\u2019t or don\u2019t want to see how they\u2019re the problem<\/a>. And they respond by proposing individual solutions<\/a> to what is a collective, systemic problem \u2014 wellness programs and yoga classes won\u2019t help with overwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have the energy to try and address organizational overwork, start small. You can talk to trusted colleagues about their experiences and share stories, which helps raise awareness about how burnout is a collective larger issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Acknowledge this isn\u2019t a you problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A more significant role falls on leaders who have the power and resources to change work. If their employees burn out, it\u2019s because they are OK with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsible leaders should reach out to employees to inquire about burnout. They should understand<\/a> how their organization contributes to it. This might involve asking how work is set up<\/a>, how information technology affects work<\/a> and how employees are \u2014 or aren\u2019t \u2014 supported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders set the tone<\/a> and model what is acceptable \u2014 like overworking or taking time for yourself. Ultimately, if overwork is ingrained in company culture, we need to realize that the problem is the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burnout is serious problem that deserves all of our attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudine Mangen<\/a>, RBC Professor in Responsible Organizations and Associate Professor, Concordia University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Claudine Mangen, Concordia University Work has become an around-the-clock activity, courtesy of the pandemic and technology that makes us reachable anytime, anywhere. Throw in expectations to deliver fast and create faster and it becomes hard to take a step back. Not surprisingly, many of us are feeling burned out. Burnout \u2014 which often affects women […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":30451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[277,42],"tags":[12187,10484,4151,1692,4092,3828,4671],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30450"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30450"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30458,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30450\/revisions\/30458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}