Are You At Risk For Burnout? - Part 1

Burnout is a problem that many people face, or come very close to, at some point in their life or career. But it is not only individuals who hold a job outside of the home who can face burn out. Stay-at-home moms who spend hours carting children from one place to another, doing homework and organizing meals can also be at risk for burnout.

It is a chronic condition which happens when a mind or body cannot keep up with overwhelming demands that are placed on it. Unfortunately, in this fast-paced world in which we live, this particular condition is more common than it should be. Burnout feels as if you are trapped in a state of emotional exhaustion and you stop caring about what you do even when you feel guilty.

Burnout is much more than stress and caused by much more than stress. Individuals report that they feel completely drained both physically and emotionally and this can sometimes go on for months or even years. People who are particularly susceptible are usually highly committed and motivated and who have high standards. It appears much more frequent in entrepreneurs, managers, teachers, social workers, healthcare workers and athletes.

Some of the factors which go into the development of burnout include: feeling undervalued or recognized for accomplishments at work, whether or not an individual has the ability to balance work and play in their life, an individual feels as if they have the time to accomplish what is expected of them and if they feel successful or proud of the work that they have done. People who feel as if they are making a difference in the lives of others often continue to work through their stress and burnout less quickly than those who do not. Individuals who work through “crunch time” but also have down time in their lives will fare much better than those who work at a high stress level all the time.

References:

(1) Eastern Washington University: Life Without TV?

http://cultivationanalysisrtvf173.pbworks.com/f/Cultivat1.pdf

Resources:

Western Journal of Medicine: The Prevention and Cure of Physician Burnout

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071382/

MayoClinic: Job Burnout: Spotting it and taking Action

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/burnout/WL00062

Texas Medical Association: Three Stages of Burnout

http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/burnout_qt/3stages.pdf