Since 2020 workplaces have seen a rapid rise in burnt out managers, business owners and employees and the warnings are there is more to follow.
This occupational phenomena was included for the first time in 2019’s 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) which defines Burnout as:
“… a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”
In today’s blog, our guest author, Jess Stuart, has written of her personal experience with and recovery from, burnout and pulls together her research on the topic.
Of her latest book, Burnout to brilliance, she says:
“This book isn’t really about burnout … it’s more about redefining peak performance and developing a roadmap for getting there”. (p.8)
The blog piece below has been reproduced from the author’s website with her permission.
Research out of AUT suggests 11 per cent of New Zealand workers might be experiencing burnout: physical or mental problems due to stress or overwork. That’s more than one in every ten new Zealanders.
We use the term burnout to describe physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.
The World Health Organisation predicts burnout will be a global pandemic in less than a decade and The World Economic Forum estimates an annual burnout cost of GBP 225B to the global economy. We know there’s an organisational cost of burnout too with increased turnover, absenteeism and of course the obvious impact on performance.
The most common indicators burnout is at play are; exhaustion, a feeling of lack of control, disengaging, trouble focusing, a sense of dread about work and frequent feelings of cynicism or irritability.
Burnout is not just about quantity but the quality of what we’re doing not just how much of it we’re doing. According to Psychology today; “Burnout is not simply a result of working long hours or juggling too many tasks, though those both play a role”.
The cynicism, depression, and lethargy that are characteristic of burnout most often occur when a person is not in control of how a job is carried out, or is asked to complete tasks that conflict with their sense of self.
5 Stage of Burnout with symptoms
In my experience, it’s not poor performers who burnout, we don’t burn out because we’re not capable, in fact it’s the opposite. The more capable we are the more likely we are to burnout, it’s the drive of the high achiever that leads us down this path.
High achievers are given more work because of their competence and track record which puts them at higher risk of overworking , having too much on their plate and ultimately burning out.
And of course we can’t say no, for fear of not been seen as up to the job, for looking weak or like we’re not coping. Our cultures and societal norms around this stuff keep us pushing until we hit a wall, saying yes until we collapse under the weight of all the commitments we’ve just made – then we feel like a failure.
So how do we avoid burnout? What triggers should we look out for?
Well, if you’re tired all the time, despite getting plenty of sleep; if you’re constantly fighting off coughs and colds – always being on the verge of sickness; if you’re struggling to motivate yourself, and not finding joy in the things you used to love or don’t have the motivation to do these things … you’re on notice burnout is close.
In this state, we become less tolerant of those around us. We reach for the wrong food or increase our alcohol intake as a coping mechanism. When we’re exhausted, we tend to choose TV over exercise, or takeaways over cooking, or we skip meals completely because of a loss of appetite – these are all potential burnout signs.
And, of course, the most obvious sign is when we truly hit burnout, and end up in bed, completely devoid of energy and interest in life. This was certainly my experience – but we’re all different.
Most of us know what it’s like to be at our best; we’ve been there before. Likewise, we know what it’s like when we’re about to hit a wall and get sick: when we’ve overdone it, left it too late or burned the candle at both ends.
I like to think of this in terms of a traffic light. We all have green and red zones, and they look different for us all.
The red light stops us completely; it’s our ground zero. The green light is when we’re all go and at our best. The amber light, in between, is important: it’s our warning system. When we slip from green, before we hit red, the amber light gives us an opportunity to act and pre-empt hitting the wall and slipping into that red zone: burnout.
For me, that amber light is a twitch in the corner of my eye, a sore throat and a constant tiredness. It’s noticing I’m less tolerant and a bit snappy with loved ones. This is my amber light; my warning to back off, take a rest and pre-empt the approaching red zone.
Another way to think about this is in terms of the petrol warning light in the car. When you know your tank is nearing empty, stop and refuel, to avoid being left on the side of the road.
So what do these traffic lights look like for you? What do you notice about yourself when you’re at your best, on green? What about when you’re at your worst and close to burnout, on red? And what about that bit in between: what are the early warning signs you get at the amber light? What rating would you give yourself right now and what can you do about it?
Jess Stuart is a coach, speaker and author of five personal development books specialising in mindset, performance and women in leadership. A well known expert with a background in Senior Human Resources roles and a decade working in leadership development find out more about Jess via her website www.jessstuart.co.nz Until recently, she lived in Wellington.
Burnout to brilliance : redefining peak performance / Stuart, Jess
“Learn how to achieve peak performance without burning out in the process. We live in a constant state of overwhelm and exhaustion whilst simultaneously striving for high performance. It’s not sustainable and it’s why burnout has become so prevalent. That was before the global pandemic which exacerbates the level of change and uncertainty leaving peak performance even harder to achieve. Busyness is fashionable, we wear it like a badge of honour but it doesn’t lead to high performance. Quantity does not always mean quality and being busy does not mean we’re productive, in fact the opposite is often true. Understand the difference between busy and productive. Work smarter not harder and master the habits of high performance. Understand the neuroscience behind thinking patterns and how to access a flow state. Learn strategies to cultivate a more focused, clear mind. Be your best without burning out in the process. Overcome overwhelm, reenergise and build resilience. Improve productivity and effectiveness”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)
I love Mondays : a guide to finding joy in your work / Stuart, Jess
“Out of the world’s one billion full time workers only 15% are engaged in our work. That means a massive 85% of us are unhappy in our jobs. Is it possible to do work we love and get paid for it? Why do so many of us dislike our job and what’s the impact on our health and happiness? Society models a version of career success that revolves around status, titles and salary not passion, purpose and happiness. This book uncovers the secret to finding work you love and if that’s not your current job, how to find a new one. Including 20 case studies from everyday people who’ve done just that. Master the art of work-life balance and get the job you’ve dreamed of. Discover the joy of finding meaning and purpose in the work that you do, working for a company that aligns with your values, with people you trust, where you get to use your skills and learn. Experience what it feels like to jump out of bed every Monday morning knowing you make a difference and sustain high performance to continue to grow in a career you love.” (Catalogue)
The superwoman survival guide : a book for busy women / Stuart, Jess
“The superwoman survival guide is a guide to surviving your own expectations. Learning to overcome, balance our busy lives, believe in our own abilities and understand how to be amazing, just as you are. This book is not about changing who you are it’s about changing the way you think about who you are. Freeing yourself from the pursuit of a superwoman ideal that’s unrealistic and is making so many of us unhappy. This sense of not measuring up, the need to be more and do more keeps us constantly striving for something that’ll always be out of reach – it exists only in the movies. It’s what I refer to as the superwoman complex”–(Catalogue)
Like a girl : a guide to unlocking your potential / Stuart, Jess
“Do you have a busy, over committed schedule, struggle to find enough hours in the day? Are you busy doing everything in an attempt to please everyone? Longing for a time you can enjoy life, not feel so overwhelmed, to draw breath and contemplate the things that matter? How do we find balance in a world that places so much expectation on us, a life in which we are exhausted yet still busy striving for perfection? How do we navigate the unique challenges we face, overcome fear and self-doubt? Learn how to embrace your authenticity and leverage the strengths we have as women. Discover the empowerment of what being like a girl means. Understand how we build resilience and overcome self-doubt to achieve our goals. With practical advice to help you uncover your brilliance and thrive at life.” (Catalogue)
A rough guide to a smooth life / Stuart, Jess
“Does it feel like you’re always striving but never arriving? What would it be like if life wasn’t so hard, if you had more time and energy? Its the question were all trying to find the answer to; where is happiness and how do we get it? This is a practical self-improvement guide on surviving modern life. Rediscover the art of happiness, find meaning and purpose, and create a life you love. It seems like we live on fast forward. As a result, were living a fast life not a good life, in which we can do more things in less hours of the day but spend less time doing the things that really matter. Over the past few years I have transformed my own life. This involved overcoming challenges, discovering my true self and finding the courage to leave everything I know to walk my own path and make my dreams a reality. I learned a lot about myself and even more about life and happiness along the way. This book doesn’t create happiness for you; its already there inside. It will empower you to realise your potential, improve your life, and achieve your dreams. Jess uncovers the key to creating a happier life and leads by example. Her perspective shines a bright light at a much needed time. Let her guide you, this book will help.” (Catalogue) (E-book format only)