What is Burnout Syndrome? Is it dangerous? Who is at risk? What are the signs of burnout at work? What causes it? How to treat and prevent it?
What is Burnout Syndrome in working age and how to prevent it?
Symptoms of stress, depression, boredom, and lack of motivation at work, often mentioned on social media as Burnout Syndrome or burnout at work, is a growing problem in today’s society, especially among office workers due to stress and pressure at work.
If you notice symptoms that may indicate Burnout Syndrome, you should consult a specialist doctor to get appropriate advice on how to cope before the symptoms worsen, leading to emotional and physical problems such as insomnia, chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
- What is burnout at work?
- Who is at risk of burnout?
- What are the warning signs of burnout at work?
- What are the negative effects of burnout at work?
- How to cope with burnout at work?
What is burnout at work?
Burnout at work is an emotional exhaustion condition, a psychological change caused by chronic stress, leading to feeling burned out, viewing oneself negatively, lacking motivation to succeed at work, feeling detached from colleagues, and not feeling connected to the workplace.
Burnout at work has been registered as a new condition by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be included in diagnostic guidelines. Although it is not yet classified as an illness or medical condition, related academics have shown interest and widely discussed this issue.
Who is at risk of burnout?
- Those who work hard, have a heavy workload, and work overtime
- Jobs that are complex and rushed, causing pressure
- Being too serious, lacking flexibility, and perfectionism
- Working in a job without love or desire to do it
- Lacking decision-making power and having problems prioritizing tasks
- Not receiving adequate rewards or recognition for efforts
- Not receiving fairness, lacking trust, and not being open to acceptance
- Feeling not part of the team, feeling invisible
- Management systems or organizational values conflicting with personal values and life goals
- Unstable organization and unclear management policies
Burnout Syndrome can happen to anyone who lacks balance between life and work, such as those in service-related professions who must be good role models, bear risks, pressures, and expectations, leading to negative attitudes toward their work and eventually burnout.
What are the warning signs of burnout at work?
Since Burnout Syndrome is an emotional reaction to work in various forms, if you suspect you are experiencing burnout, you can observe the initial symptoms as follows:
- Physical symptoms: loss of energy or fatigue (Exhaustion)
Insomnia, physical fatigue, tiredness, weakness, headaches, stomachaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, weakened immunity, lack of concentration, and reduced memory ability.
- Emotional symptoms: feeling unwilling to work or having a negative attitude toward work (Negativism)
Feeling bored, unhappy, depressed, lifeless, hopeless, unmotivated, mood swings, anger, irritability, pessimism, indifferent to others’ feelings, increased interpersonal conflicts, and doubting one’s abilities.
- Behavioral symptoms: decreased work performance (Professional Efficacy)
Less interaction with people, isolating from groups, obsessing over work, lack of enthusiasm, procrastination, poor time management, lack of creativity, decreased work efficiency, and even substance or alcohol abuse.
What are the negative effects of burnout at work?
Burnout at work (Burnout) is related to stress, leading to various physical and emotional problems such as insomnia, nightmares, lack of concentration, boredom, and depression. These symptoms can be factors that cause mental health problems like depression. In some people who use drugs, substances, alcohol, and have chronic stress, it can lead to diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
It can be seen that the mind and body are interconnected. If the mind is ill, it will manifest in behavior and physical symptoms as well.
Although Burnout Syndrome is not yet classified as an illness or medical condition, it should be monitored and symptoms observed. Do not ignore it too much because being aware of the condition will help patients cope and take care of themselves properly before the problem escalates into other diseases that are harder to treat.
How to cope with burnout at work?
If you find yourself experiencing burnout at work, you should adjust the balance between personal life and work to return to normal as follows:
- Get enough rest and quality sleep to allow the body to fully recover, eliminate accumulated fatigue, and help balance the body.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, eat healthy food, and avoid substance abuse.
- Organize your life, prioritize tasks, and avoid bringing work home unless necessary.
- Meditate, relax to reduce stress, be more flexible in various situations, and reduce self-imposed pressure.
- Smile, build good relationships, and create a positive work atmosphere.
- Reduce the use of electronic devices to decrease stress from excessive information intake, which can cause insomnia and lack of concentration.
- Adjust your attitude toward work, be open to accepting others, and understand the work and organization.
- Take a vacation or travel to clear your mind and rebalance your mental state.
If you feel burned out, stressed, or very depressed, seeking help from trusted and understanding people to talk and relieve stress can help alleviate symptoms of Burnout Syndrome. However, if symptoms are severe and unmanageable, you should promptly consult a doctor or specialist.
The important thing when facing burnout or Burnout Syndrome is to rest and give yourself time to manage the stress physically, emotionally, and mentally to restore balance to normal life and find work-life balance to prevent burnout from recurring.
