The Truth About Job Burnout & Depression Among The Youth

Job burnout is considered a state of vital exhaustion, a syndrome that results from chronic and unresolved stress at the workplace. It is a factor that eventually influences the health status of an individual.

You are likely to get a job burnout if:

1. You have work overload

If you focus too much on fixing other people’s problems at work, you will eventually realize that work will take a toll on you. When do you have time to do your work and focus on what you need to achieve?

Others who are likely to suffer from burnout are those in the ‘helping’ professions such as healthcare, where other individuals rely on them to make them feel better – they are at a high risk of suffering from burnout.

QUICK READ >>> 5 Ways Of Coping With Job Search Depression

2. You have little control

Inability to influence how your days at work look like such as workload and task schedule can make you feel that you have no control over your work. This is because you may end up working more hours which may leave you feeling frustrated.

3. Your job expectations are unclear

Micro-management by your boss can get you stressed. Whenever you do not know how far you are free to exercise authority, you will be uncomfortable.

Dysfunctional workplace dynamics may also leave you feeling undermined, and contribute greatly to job burnout.

4. You have a boring job

Every time you think of your work as monotonous and unexciting, you will easily get fatigued. Inability to explore your creativity will leave you feeling like your job is not enjoyable, especially if you have to force yourself to stay focused throughout the day.

5. You lack a balance between work and personal/social life

Do you find yourself isolated at work? Is your personal life lonely? Do you find yourself too tired to spend time with family?

A lack of social support is likely to contribute to stress that leads to burnout.

RELATED ARTICLE >>> The Ultimate Guide To Balancing Your Work And Life

Signs of Job Burnout

• When you find yourself having prolonged negativism, decreased professionalism and being overly critical, maybe you should do some self-examination.
• Do you lack consistency, or are you easily irritable at work?
• Have your sleep patterns changed over time?
• Are you experiencing irregular bowel movements or headaches? Make a point of seeing a doctor or a mental health specialist because you could just be wallowing in job burnout.
• Are you losing interest in stuff you used to enjoy and detaching from colleagues and loved ones?
• Having trouble concentrating at work, forgetfulness and serious anxiety and panic attacks are also associated with burnout.

You can handle burnout by

Taking time to take care of yourself – Set boundaries for yourself. For instance, you can decide not to carry work home. Get more sleep, meditate, exercise, eat right and try relaxing activities to release tension from work.

Self-examination – Be more self-aware of your personality and your ability to handle stressful situations. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and how they impact your work and productivity.

Connecting with others – Seek social support from others around you especially those who can help you in your career growth. Reach out to loved ones who will help you cope with stress and take advantage of the company and the time they spend with you to be better.

Voicing your concerns – Talk with your boss or supervisor on issues you need to be addressed so that you can be more productive. Be willing to change your expectations or make compromises on goal setting. Prioritize tasks and follow up on postponed assignments.

Innovating creatively – Enhance experiences by putting a new spin on how you do your work assignments. Relieve yourself of the dullness and uneventful way of a monotonous routine day in day out. Switching things up will help you feel motivated and inspired.

In Conclusion,

An unrewarding job can undermine your health. The worrying thing is that burnout is not easily recognizable. Most people notice it when the symptoms have started affecting other people around them.

The Standard