{"id":56613,"date":"2022-11-22T06:23:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T13:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/are-you-feeling-burnout\/"},"modified":"2022-11-22T06:23:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T13:23:42","slug":"are-you-feeling-burnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/are-you-feeling-burnout\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Feeling Burnout?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"burnout\"<\/p>\n

\u201cFRESH IDEAS FROM THE BLACKLIGHT\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n
SBC\u2019s Weekly Newsletter for Professionals<\/h5>\n

You\u2019d be hard-pressed to find anyone not experiencing\u00a0<\/span>some<\/span><\/em>\u00a0degree of burnout these days. It\u2019s a global condition afflicting workers across the employment spectrum. In a recent\u00a0<\/span>Deloitte survey<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of more than 1,000 respondents, 77% said they had experienced burnout at their current job. Furthermore, 91% reported that unmanaged stress impacts the quality of their work.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the damage isn\u2019t limited to the workplace; 83% of those surveyed said burnout negatively impacted their relationships. And loving your job doesn\u2019t fully inoculate you from that fried feeling\u201464% of those respondents still said they get stressed frequently at work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To better identify and understand burnout and learn how to stave off its effects, we\u2019re turning to the expert, executive coach Melody Wilding. She\u2019s the author of\u00a0<\/span>Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u00a0and writes extensively about imposter syndrome, burnout, and resiliency.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The costs of burnout are huge. Left unchecked, chronic stress contributes to depression, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders. \u2014Melody Wilding<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In her recent piece in\u00a0<\/span>Harvard Business Review<\/span><\/em><\/a>, Wilding pushes back against our conventional understanding of burnout. Rather than boiling it down to just being busy and tired, she explores a more nuanced interpretation of workplace stress.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my work as a coach for women and entrepreneurs, I\u2019ve found that burnout \u2026 is about being demoralized for one of several reasons,\u201d she explains. Wilding has identified three types of burnout and offers advice on overcoming each version.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overload Burnout<\/span><\/h2>\n

This type of burnout is the easiest to recognize. Often, these are\u00a0<\/span>the workaholics<\/span><\/a> drowning in tasks as they strive to maintain unrealistic output levels. They never unplug from work, and any attempts at <\/span>work-life balance<\/span><\/a>\u00a0went out the window during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cOverload burnout typically affects highly dedicated employees who feel obligated to work at an unsustainable pace,\u201d Wilding writes. \u201cAs a result, they drive themselves to the point of physical and mental exhaustion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Warning signs include overlooking your own needs and personal life and having an excessive, unhealthy devotion to your career. If this sounds familiar, you can take steps immediately to reduce your stress. First, reject the notion that a successful career requires the complete absorption of your very being.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Resting is not a reward for success. It\u2019s a prerequisite for performance. \u2014Melody Wilding<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Start taking baby steps now to combat the draining effects of being in constant work mode. Reconnect with people and interests outside of the office. And for goodness sake, do not leave those\u00a0<\/span>unused vacation days<\/span><\/a>\u00a0on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under-Challenged Burnout<\/span><\/h2>\n

This version is the equally evil twin of the subtype we just covered. Also known as\u00a0<\/span>boreout syndrome<\/span><\/a>, this happens when you have a mental underload at work. With boreout, there\u2019s a general lack of purpose and intellectual stimulation. Even more dismaying, the under-challenged face little prospects for career progression in their current position. Your personal and professional growth comes to a halt, leaving you with the sense that your work has no meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWorkers who feel their tasks are monotonous and unfulfilling tend to lose passion and become cynical and lethargic,\u201d Wilding notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

To combat this type of burnout, she suggests sufferers explore their curiosities and set a goal to learn new skills. \u201cMaking strides towards something that feels fun and meaningful to you creates a flywheel of momentum that can lift you out of a funk,\u201d Wilding says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask your supervisor if you can take on a new role or more meaningful tasks. You can also try\u00a0<\/span>job crafting<\/span><\/a>, where you find new ways to incorporate your passions and skills into your daily work. By adding or dropping responsibilities outlined in your official job description, you can shape your role into one that brings more meaning to you\u2014and your organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neglect Burnout<\/span><\/h2>\n

The third type, also known as worn-out burnout, happens when people feel helpless in the face of challenges. \u201cNeglect burnout occurs when you aren\u2019t given enough structure, direction, or guidance in the workplace,\u201d Wilding explains. Individuals feel like they can\u2019t meet expectations and keep up with demands. Over time, Wilding says, this can make you feel incompetent, frustrated, and uncertain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen things at work don\u2019t turn out as they should, those with neglect burnout become passive and stop trying,\u201d she reveals. Learned helplessness takes over, making the worn-out worker unable to solve problems even when solutions are readily available, Wilding adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

How can you tell if you\u2019re suffering from this type of burnout? Ask yourself these two questions:<\/span><\/p>\n