3 Ways to Identify Job Burnout
1. Learn the Reality of Job Burnout
Job burnout, also known as job depression, affects many workers from all walks of life. Those hit hardest by this condition are individuals working as service providers. Job burnout can also arise if your career requires you to make life-and-death decisions, keep up a highly challenging schedule or perform extremely repetitive and detail-oriented work.
You run the risk of job burnout when your stress level builds and you don't treat or recognize it. At first, job burnout simply comes across as a lack of motivation to succeed or continue in your chosen trade or career. However, if your spirit feels broken on a daily basis, job burnout is lurking under the surface.
2. Identify the Possible Signs
Sit back and take a look at what your job entails. Nurses, doctors, therapists, educators, health care professionals, emergency services workers and police officers need to understand that they are more prone to work burnout, so watch closely for symptoms.
If you have a "tunnel-vision" approach to your work, it's a clue that you may have job burnout. When individuals relate too intensely to their careers, they often have trouble striking a healthy balance between their work and home lives. They may spread themselves too thin or feel as though they have to do everything themselves, which leads to extra stress.
Other signs of burnout show up in "people pleasers," who feel that they are the only ones who can do their job effectively. You'll notice that this personality type tends not to ask for help even when it's desperately needed.
3. Notice the Symptoms
Everyone has moments of frustration and anxiety at work. But when such feelings become commonplace and your work performance starts to decline, it's probably due to job burnout.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the same symptoms of job burnout. If you're experiencing strong feelings of helplessness, avoiding interpersonal problems or self-medicating your feelings with drugs or alcohol, it may be time to talk to someone about how you're feeling.
Member Comments
by dwinkl on July 10, 2008 at 4:26 AM
I really liked this article, but it really needs to be followed up with a part-two segment on tips for handling it. The author does mention seeking therapy, but it was such a good article with insight into this issue that I would have thought that another round about helpful, positive steps would've naturally followed.
by jgmcmaster on July 13, 2008 at 7:13 PM
I agree with dwinki--it's far easier to identify burnout than to deal with it--how do you prevent it or overcome it? Or is it something cyclical? Most of us who are in service professions seem to find ourselves in the same boat over and over, just in slightly different circumstances.
by perkins4655 on March 14, 2009 at 8:19 AM
I too liked this article. I was also left wanting to know more solutions to job burnout. I know that when I have job burnout I go to my portfolio at www.personavita.com. On my portfolio there is a place where I can get my professional accomplishments validated by my business associates. It helps to see those validations. It gives me renewed energy for my job and allows me to know the worth that I have to the company I am working for.