How to Identify Work Burnout: Causes, Symptoms, and Recovery

Are there days you want to pull the blanket over your head and just stay safely tucked in your spot in the world? Honestly, most people will have those feelings at one time or another. It is common knowledge that in today’s world, you must work if you are going to have the necessities. If you want to enjoy the extras, then sometimes that means two incomes. Either way, there is no way to get around the 9-to-5 life, and that can lead to work burnout.

It’s not always a sign that there is something wrong to think that you could lay in bed all day. It’s when you begin to act on that thought that may be a sign of something deeper.

The problem comes when your emotions and actions change because you no longer want to get up and go to work. You are just tired of the job and all the issues that come with working. This thought process may indicate that you are suffering from work burnout.

What are the causes of work burnout?

Many factors can contribute to work burnout. It is important to note that work burnout is more than just being tired from working hard. It is how your body reacts to the constant stress of your job. This includes physical, mental, and emotional reactions. When you start to feel extremely drained and as though you don’t care, it could be time to evaluate whether you suffer from work burnout.

Organizational factors.

No recognition – When you put all your effort into doing a good job and there are no accolades, it becomes difficult to maintain focus. A lack of recognition can create an atmosphere of low morale.

Your skills aren’t aligned with your role – This becomes an issue when you are hired for a certain job and you find that you are not working in that capacity. Most of the time you feel as though you are not in the role you expected.

No prospect of promotion – Most people want to be able to advance in the company. Desiring the chance for promotion is a healthy goal and when there is no chance, you may begin to find dissatisfaction with your job.

Lack of control – Everyone wants to be able to put their personal touch on their job. When there are restrictions on the input that a person can give at work, it will lead to less enthusiasm about the job.

Poor management – If the leader/manager is not engaging and promoting a healthy workplace the employees will lose interest and possibly suffer from work burnout. People want to feel supported and encouraged in their job. They want to know that they matter in the workforce and that they aren’t just an employee number.

Toxic work environment – The people that make up the work community play a large part in how a person identifies with the workplace. When this place becomes toxic and induces fear it can cause the person to experience feelings of not wanting to be a part of that work community.

Personal factors.

Personality – A person who is constantly focused on perfection or overly competitive could find it hard to delegate and prioritize. This could contribute to work burnout.

Lifestyle – When a family is facing a sudden illness and a person becomes a caretaker as well as a breadwinner, a high probability for burnout will come into play. Other lifestyle factors are two or more jobs and work-life balance.

Symptoms.

The symptoms of work burnout coincide with the phase of burnout you are experiencing. The top three symptoms are exhaustion, feeling less accomplished, and lack of personalization.

Exhaustion: This is not the typical feeling of tiredness that comes with hard work. This is a mental and physical tiredness that leaves you without energy.

Feeling less accomplished: This symptom manifests through the feeling that your work isn’t acceptable. You may also feel as though you are no longer able to perform in the same manner.

Lack of personalization: When you start feeling as though you no longer care whether or not you are present at your job you will begin to distance yourself.

Other symptoms can present themselves in other ways such as physical, behavioral, and emotional.

Physical symptoms may include: 

• Difficulty sleeping.
• Headaches or aching muscles.
• Appetite changes.
• Feeling tired.

Behavioral symptoms may include:

• Irritability or anger related to work.
• Becoming socially isolated.
• Not completing the job tasks.

Emotional symptoms may include these feelings: 

• Loneliness.
• Self-doubt.
• Unmotivated.
• Dissatisfied.

Recovering from work burnout.

There are ways to recover from work burnout before deciding to throw in the towel. It is important to recognize the symptoms and learn ways to recover. Some of these resolutions are simple and can be done while at work and others are more effective when you are away from the workplace.

Learning to pace your workday and take a break can help while at work. Sometimes it is beneficial to take a vacation to recharge your outlook regarding your job. Recovery means that it’s time for some self-care as you reprioritize your career.

If you need further assistance with the symptoms of work burnout, contact a Christian counselor at Frisco Christian Counseling in California. The Christian counselors in Frisco can help with faith-based recovery techniques.