“Our boundaries define our personal space – and we need to be sovereign there in order to be able to step into our full power and potential.” – Jessica Moore
Burnout is the buzzword of our pandemic and post-pandemic workplaces. For some, burnout is a new and confusing feeling. For others, burnout has been a career staple. Wherever you fall on the experience spectrum, you know burnout is something to be avoided.
How do I recognize burnout?
Burnout can sneak up on you disguised as a bad day. It’s easy to excuse negativity as something circumstantial rather than something deeper. If you find yourself saying “I just need to get through the day,” every day, that may be your first clue you’re experiencing burnout.
Common symptoms of burnout include:
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and no two people experience burnout the same way. Take an inventory of your schedule, workload, personal responsibilities, and your mental, emotional, and physical responses to it all. If you’re having a bad day, every day, you’re probably burnt out. The best way to recognize burnout is through honest self-reflection and/or conversations with those you trust.
How do I prevent burnout?
When it comes to burnout, there is no one thing that causes it. An overload of responsibilities, unsafe conditions (concerning physical and/or psychological safety), or lack of social support can trigger burnout. It is the result of extreme imbalance in the load we carry mentally, emotionally, and physically – there is either not enough or too much of something in our lives. If there is any hope of preventing burnout, finding balance is your best bet.
Check-in with yourself and assess your situation. Have your habits changed? Do you wish you had different responsibilities? How long have you been feeling this way? As leaders in public service, we may find it especially difficult to answer these questions (even when we’re alone and finding an answer for ourselves.) Our identities get wrapped up into the work we do – our focus shifts from being enough to doing enough – and that’s not fair! The more we identify with the work we do, the more willing we are to overextend ourselves, and the risk of burnout increases. Detaching our identity from our productivity and setting personal boundaries will allow you to be good and do good at the same time.
How do I deal with burnout?
Dealing with burnout doesn’t mean only choosing fun assignments, it means finding new ways to complete difficult tasks without getting overwhelmed. Stress and struggle will still exist after your burnout is gone.
Identify imbalances in your work and home life. Knowing what is tipping the scale out of your favor will help you direct your efforts and set appropriate boundaries.
Here are simple ways to set boundaries in the workplace:
It’s up to you to identify your burnout and enforce your own boundaries – but there are resources and partnerships that can help. Remember, there is no trophy for who can struggle the most or for the longest amount of time. Get support as early and often as you can.
Connect with Resolve EAP to discuss your service options.
Talk to some right away. Counselors at LifeMatters are available every day, 24 hours a day. The service is free and confidential. You'll find the phone number on your organization's intranet site or in Self Service Announcements - Click of All.
