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Being tipped over the edge at the slightest inconvenience, working overtime well into the night to stay ‘in control’, or perhaps feeling like you’re always run down, getting by on a concoction of paracetamol and caffeine?
Whatever burnout looks like to you, one thing’s for sure: the changes our workplaces have undergone over the last decade (read: new technology, the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis…) have transformed our jobs, with measures to prevent the relatively newly recognised state of burnout lagging far behind.
As described by WHO, burnout is an “occupational phenomenon”, most commonly thought of as a “state of physical and emotional exhaustion” brought on by intense stress. The lines between burnout and depression are blurry; however, burnout is usually defined by extreme cynicism, fatigue, and deteriorating performance.
However, in The Burnout Report 2024, Mental Health UK challenged this “occupational” definition. Why? Because in a world where our work and home lives have never overlapped more, can we really say burnout is just about work?
Myth Busting
Harley Consultancy psychotherapist and ‘Burnout Queen’, Jacky Francis Walker explains that burnout-prone people tend to be “high achiever[s]”, who “push themselves too hard, for too long” in their quest to rise higher.
Burnout is on the Rise. Here are the Latest Statistics:
- Over the last year, extreme stress has impacted 91% of adults in the UK.
- 35% of employees would feel too uncomfortable to tell their line manager if stressed.
- In 2023, 23.3 million mental health sick days were taken.
- Last year, 1 in 5 workers took time off due to extreme stress.
- Almost half of UK employees said their employer didn’t have a burnout management strategy in place, and if they did, only 29% knew what this plan entailed.
What is Burnout Caused By?
- Working arrangements: 30% of people working from a fixed workplace cited location as a contributor to burnout, compared to 16% of remote workers.
- A mixture of home and work factors: Extending beyond just the occupational, burnout can be caused by a huge range of factors.
- Lack of identification with your job: Working towards something which doesn’t align with your morals.
- Poor communication and feeling unsupported: The “psychological buffer” of good managerial support makes employees 70% less likely to experience burnout.
- Overwhelming workload: This can make employees feel hopeless.
- Extreme deadlines: Those with enough time to complete their work are almost three-quarters less likely to experience burnout.
- Toxic workplace culture: Employees who face unreasonable managerial demands, job insecurity, toxic workplace dynamics, and bullies are more vulnerable to burnout.
- Unclear role responsibilities: Only 60% of employees know what their manager expects of them, which is draining.
- Personality traits: Pessimism and perfectionism can make you more susceptible to burnout.
We hold live health and wellbeing talks and webinars every single month – and they’re one of the best ways to raise awareness of mental and physical health challenges in your workplace. Led by leading consultants and wellbeing specialists, including burnout specialist Dr Amy Imms, our events offer your team the chance to learn more about leading a healthier, happier life.
The Signs and Symptoms of Burnout:
Mental:
- Irritability/anger – feeling irrationally frustrated, impatient, or short-tempered, often without real reason.
- Depression – hopelessness, sadness, or worthlessness.
- Depersonalisation – feeling disconnected from your life in every way.
- Anxiety – uncontrollable worry.
- Loss of control – lacking agency over your life.
- Cynicism and alienation – feeling numb or sceptical about everything work-related.
- Apathy, listlessness, and a lack of enjoyment – Feeling devoid of energy and joy.
Behavioural:
- Feeling unmotivated – no energy to do work.
- Hatred of job – intense dislike of everything work-related.
- Struggling to focus – poor concentration that damages efficiency.
- Isolating yourself – social withdrawal.
- Deteriorating performance – not being able to do your job as well as you used to.
Physical:
- Insomnia/sleep problems – struggling to get enough good-quality sleep.
- Extreme fatigue – feeling overwhelmed by tiredness.
- Hypertension – stress-related high blood pressure.
- Gastrointestinal issues and headaches – stress can cause a range of physical discomfort.
- Getting ill constantly – stress weakens the immune system.
How to Prevent Burnout/Recover from Burnout:
- Remember the basics! Prioritise the pillars of wellbeing, including sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
- Take frequent rest breaks – have regular screen breaks, do some stretches, and get a drink or healthy snack. You’ll return to your desk feeling calmer, re-energised, and focused.
- Explore how to switch off during your lunch break and evenings. Spend time resting and doing things you find fulfilling, enjoyable, and satisfying.
- When overwhelm strikes, assess your priorities – what’s really important and what can wait?
- Use mindfulness and meditation to stay calm.
- Use up all your annual leave! Spread your holiday allowance throughout the year for regular breaks.
- Speak out! Share your feelings with your colleagues, manager, and loved ones.
- Seek medical help if necessary.
WFH?
- Give each day a structure, and stick to it – work from a dedicated workspace and plan your start time, break time, lunch, and finish time. Don’t over-run!
- Communicate – stay in regular touch with colleagues to prevent isolation.
- Manage your time – write priority-ordered to-do lists, set achievable goals, and plot realistic plans.
- Set clear boundaries – when you ‘leave’ your virtual office, actually leave!
Additional Tips for Employees:
- Utilise your organisation’s mental health support provisions.
- Talk to your manager! Be honest about your emotions and discuss your workload and deadlines.
- Open up to your peers and build a network of colleague support where you can all help each other.
- See what you can do to champion mental health in your workplace.
If you or your team want to find new, better ways of championing mental health at work, look no further: Wellbeing Champions are vital for creating a stronger, healthier working environment and culture that prioritises mental and physical wellbeing. Our Wellbeing Champion training course will teach attendees how to promote wellbeing at work and look out for your whole team’s health and happiness.
Additional Tips for Employers:
Do:
- Create an effective health and wellbeing strategy that actively prioritises your team’s mental and physical wellbeing.
- Model positive behaviours for healthy workplace culture – including good work-life boundaries (no emails after working hours or at the weekend!), regular breaks, using up all your annual leave, praising achievements, and leading a healthy lifestyle.
- Regularly check in with your team and make them feel like they can talk to you, promote open communication, and encourage them to prioritise their health.
- Facilitate team-building and socialising opportunities.
- Conduct regular stress/burnout risk assessments.
- Remember to offer the same support to your remote-working employees as those on-site.
Our Mental Health First Aid training and Mental Health Skills Development (for qualified MHFAs) courses offer delegates the opportunity to become Mental Health First Aiders, equipped with the skills and knowledge to support your team’s mental health in the workplace. Mental Health First Aid training is essential for preventing and managing burnout in your team.
Don’t:
- Be hard on yourself or your team.
- Forget about your own health and wellbeing – practise what you preach.
- Be pessimistic – embody the source of good energy your team needs.
- Set unreasonable, inflexible, or last-minute deadlines.
In Summary
Discussions surrounding burnout have proliferated over the last few years, and with 24% of working adults in one survey feeling “unable to manage stress and pressure in the workplace”, it’s no wonder.
But there is a better way: with more compassion and understanding, better workplace wellbeing strategies, improved communication, and a greater focus on leading healthier lifestyles, we can all better deal with stress and reduce the risk of burnout.
Want to Know How You Can Protect Your Team from Burnout?
Our Wellbeing Consultancy services take the confusion out of caring for your team in the best way possible.
When you start your Wellbeing Consultancy services journey:
Work with you to uncover your organisation’s needs.
Create a strategy that better supports these needs.
Monitor and evaluate the strategy to ensure long-term success.
Take the first step today.
