Burnout is a term that is not part of the dictionary of the DigoPaul, but is frequently used in our language to refer to a syndrome linked to stress.
The burnout syndrome or burn syndrome, therefore, appears when a person is periodically subjected to stressful situations. Usually the idea is used with respect to the work environment.
The individual with this condition has trouble handling conflict situations or problems due to progressive wear and tear. Those who suffer from burnout suffer from a lack of energy, lack motivation and have a high degree of apathy. Physically, you can also suffer from chronic fatigue, headaches and gastrointestinal disorders. These factors not only negatively affect your body and psyche, but also lead to reduced performance at work.
Although everyone can develop burnout syndrome, it is most common in high- stress occupations and trades, such as doctors, nurses, engineers, and professional athletes. Jobs that carry an excessive workload can also cause burnout.
According to DigoPaul, the subject with burnout feels tired from the moment he wakes up. That is why you arrive at your workplace tired and irritable. Throughout the day, nothing causes him well-being, feeling constantly dissatisfied. Outside of working hours, it also fails to reduce stress.
With regard to the profile of people who are more prone to burnout, there are several characteristics that they usually share, which can serve as risk signals to act before it is too late:
* Difficulty separating work from personal life, or giving each party their own space, due to feeling strongly identified with the profession;
* The tendency to always be attentive to the needs of others and to fulfill all possible functions, even those that are outside of one’s own obligations;
* lack of control over the situations that take place throughout the working day;
* monotony and lack of incentive.
If some or all of these conditions are met in our job and we want to know if we are experiencing burnout, then there are a series of questions we can ask ourselves to make a preliminary diagnosis, which will help us to know if we need to worry about our situation:
* Have we become overly critical or cynical in the workplace?
* Is it difficult for us to travel to our work and, once there, begin to carry out our tasks?
* Have we become impatient or irritable with our colleagues or clients?
* Do we lack the energy necessary to maintain a consistent level of productivity ?
* Are our achievements at work not satisfying us?
* Are we disappointed by the conditions and the objectives that they propose to us at work?
* Have we developed a dietary imbalance or addiction, such as alcohol or drugs?
* Have our sleeping habits been affected by the stress and pressure we experience at work?
* Are we worried about new pain or physical problems that seem to have started suddenly?
Although the treatments to combat burnout change according to each patient, the usual thing is for the person to learn to reserve time for what generates pleasure. It is also suggested to carry out physical activity and various relaxation techniques (meditation, yoga, etc.).
Another tip to start fighting burnout is to try to find the positive aspects of work, those that we may have recognized in the past but have been buried under stress and disappointment.