“Burnout is due to lack of respect for your personal boundaries.” – Unknown
The balance between work and home has often been brought into question, especially in recent years. There is nothing wrong with ambition – putting in the extra effort and going the extra mile hoping to achieve partner, VP, CEO, or head of surgery.
But what happens when these boundaries become muddied? The work you are putting in is taking over your life with no results or appreciation. As with any career, this is where burnout begins.
You would not be alone in your feelings. In a recent survey, almost 60% of employees across various fields experienced workplace stress that came with burnout associations. This included emotional exhaustion, low productivity, and a desire to quit.
At Tranquil Shores, we understand the trials and mental stress that can come with career burnout. Substance use, mental health deterioration, and home-life strain can all take a toll on your body and mind. Let’s talk about recognizing burnout and the signs you are pushing yourself too hard in your career.
Understanding Burnout: Where Does It Stem From?
Working is a societal norm that allows us to earn money for our wants and needs. It can give us a sense of purpose and guide our life’s direction. However, working in a high-powered career comes with additional pressures, expectations, and stress. Because of the ups and downs experienced in careers, burnout can ensue.
Career burnout refers to being worn out physically, mentally, and emotionally – strictly from work. Burnout can quickly morph your career goals from ambitious to resentful if left undiscussed.
Possible Causes of Burnout
Burnout goes beyond just feeling stressed at work or putting in long hours. Though these can play a role, burnout tends to develop from mental health needs not being met and from the person feeling a lack of control in their work. Some examples include:
- Putting in extra hours in hopes of a promotion that then goes to someone else
- Having to take work home to complete all tasks assigned
- Lacking support or direction from management
- Experiencing unfair treatment or not feeling trusted
- Feeling underappreciated or no appreciation for what you do
- Having an unmanageable workload or unobtainable expectations
These scenarios can occur on their own or compile to lead to burnout. These can also cause strain on relationships and home life, increasing negative mental health.
How Burnout Creates Resentment in Your Career
Experiencing burnout on your own without acknowledging it can create resentment in your career. This is especially true if you are feeling underappreciated, unsupported, or untrusted. Feeling like you are putting in 110% and being met with less than mediocre praise can make you feel like you do not matter to the company. These feelings can result in anger and resentment, making you not want to put your best effort forward. Depression can begin to take over, further increasing your feelings of burnout. This is where having a conversation with your employer can prevent your feelings from reaching resentment and burnout.
Risk Factors for Experiencing Career Burnout
Anyone can experience being worn out from work, but there are some risk factors that can make it more likely. Those who are prone to being affected by stress may become burned out more easily. Having mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety can also increase the likelihood of burnout.
A big factor in career burnout is a lack of confidence. Those with low self-esteem are less likely to advocate for themselves. They may take on more work than they are capable of but not speak up for what they can handle. Low self-esteem may also cause the person to put all of their energy into work to try to build up confidence.
The type of career can also be a factor in experiencing burnout. High-stress careers are more likely to have long hours, endless projects, and travel for meetings. Executives, lawyers, medical professionals, and first responders are examples of high-pressure careers where burnout is prominent. In 2020, 62% of nurses indicated burnout, and with staffing being in short supply, the rates continue to rise. A survey conducted in 2022 showed that over 50% of managers across industries also experienced burnout. This shows how high-stress sectors are at a higher risk for burnout.
Signs of Burnout: Early Warnings That Stress Is on the Rise
Recognizing when stress is becoming too much and mental health is shifting is the key to preventing burnout from becoming too much. Signs that stress and burnout are on the rise include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Dissatisfaction with the employer and your work performance
- Changes in sleep and eating patterns
- Feelings of sadness or like you are stuck in place
These symptoms may have you self-medicating trying to get rid of negativity. Turning to alcohol or substances can seem to help at first, but in the long run, will cause more harm to yourself and your career.
How to Recognize Burnout in Yourself or Others
Burnout can sometimes mimic symptoms of depression, however, burnout comes from a situation where depression occurs at any time. When you’re feeling like your work no longer means something, like you’re tired all the time, or like the future doesn’t hold anything for you or your family – these are all surefire signs you are experiencing burnout.
The same can be said for coworkers. Seeing job performance deteriorate over time can be a sign that burnout is setting in. They may withdraw from conversations around the office and spend more time in their workspace. Management may step in and confront performance concerns. Offering a listening ear can help a coworker who is managing burnout.
Tips on Handling Job Burnout: What Can You Do?
The best way to handle burnout is to put your own needs first and make yourself a priority. Mental health is the first place to start. Seeing a therapist, mental health nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist can help manage burnout and maintain mental health. Though burnout is not a mental health condition, professionals can talk you through it and rule out any underlying mental health concerns. They’ll also have advice on how to manage your current responsibilities and what to do when they become too much.
Practicing healthy habits can also help reduce stress. Exercising, adding breaks to your day, and eating healthy are all stress-relieving practices. Adding breaks can give your mind a chance to breathe while exercising and eating well nourishes the body. These practices help with focus and mental clarity in the workplace and home life.
Don’t be afraid to re-evaluate your work goals and how the employer is helping you get there. If you are in a position where you are unappreciated despite putting in long hours and improving outcomes, it may be time to explore other opportunities. Always talk to your employer and see if job expectations and responsibilities are aligning and you both are on the same page. If they are but the situation doesn’t change, it is perfectly okay to see what else is out there.
For those in leadership roles, it can help to delegate tasks to employees. While some responsibilities will have to fall on your shoulders, training employees you trust to handle more responsibility can help ease your workload. This can help relieve stress and avoid burnout.
Getting Treatment for Career Burnout & Mental Health in Pinellas County, FL
Burnout may not be a diagnosable mental health condition, but there may be other underlying concerns going on. Depression and anxiety can increase the symptoms of burnout and it may feel impossible to find relief.
Whether this has led you to turn to substances or you are just looking for mental health support, there are options available for healing. Burnout doesn’t need to last for the rest of your career. Treatment for executives, medical professionals, lawyers, and more is available, and can empower you to find your spark.
If you or someone you love is managing burnout in your career, substance use, mental health concerns, or all of the above, you are not alone. Tranquil Shores offers a holistic and self-empowering approach to treatment for those in high-pressure careers. Located directly on the beach, you will find serenity and renew your focus for the future. Call us today at 727-391-7001 for the peaceful and private treatment you deserve.
FAQs About Career Burnout
How long does it take to recover from burnout?
There is no set time it takes to recover from burnout. Depending on what is making you feel burned out in your career, the time it takes to recover will vary. The longer burnout is not dealt with, the longer it will take to feel relief.
