How do you balance your own well-being and productivity while supporting a colleague with burnout?

To recognise the science and symptoms of burnout. Organisations need to create awareness of common well-being—issues of employees in the organisation. Sometimes, we end up just listening to colleagues, feelings and emotions and fail to understand that these are but not symptoms. Showing empathy and support to deal with burnout is very important, and referring them to additional help from experts available within the system or to the EAP program.

> Establish clear boundaries around your work hours. Communicate them openly and stick to them as much as possible. Resist the urge to respond outside your designated time. > Create a safe space for your colleague to express their concerns openly and without judgment. Help them prioritize tasks, delegate where possible, and share helpful resources like stress management techniques or mental health support options. > Understand that you can't control their recovery, but you can control your actions and reactions.

Yes are you more annoyed than usual, are you quicker to anger? Sometimes the signs are right in front of us, but we don't see. Make sure you know yourself and some of your quicker triggers that way you can learn how to help even in the midst of being close to burnout.

You should be on top of your team's well-being, making sure they have the chance to share concerns about their workload in 1-2-1s and their stressors and blockers. If someone's not their usual self, show empathy and ask how best you can support them.

Recognizing the signs of burnout in a colleague is the first step to offering support. Look for symptoms such as chronic fatigue, irritability, reduced performance, and withdrawal from work activities. Being aware of these signs enables you to address the issue early and provide appropriate support. Understanding burnout symptoms also helps you manage your expectations and adjust workloads accordingly. Early recognition is crucial for mitigating the impact of burnout on both your colleague’s well-being and overall team productivity.

In terms of sharing specific resources, many organizations often have some type of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place. While some EAPs are much more robust than others, generally the minimum requirements of an EAP offer solutions that could be helpful in combating burnout to some extent. Rather than simply encouraging them to seek counseling or therapy in general, as they may not know where to even start, pointing them directly towards the EAP will give them exposure to a long list of resources that could help get them on a path back to thriving.

> Prioritize your own sleep, healthy habits, and breaks. A recharged you can better support your colleague. > Encourage your colleague to seek professional help and offer to accompany them to HR or access company wellness resources.

Physical activity is a great way to combat stress which leads to burnout. Consider planning walk and talk meetings in the fresh air to encourage your colleague to get out of their head and into their body.

> Offer support but avoid becoming their therapist. > Listen actively and encourage them to seek professional help or use available company resources. > Maintain your own healthy habits like breaks, exercise, and sleep. > A burnt-out helper can't effectively support anyone. > Discuss workload with your manager and explore ways to redistribute tasks to lighten your colleague's load and maintain team productivity.

Support should be available as a given. Let your team know what support is available, how they can access it, and why it benefits them so they can easily access help whenever they need it.

Just like oxygen supply on a failing airplane, you can not take care of others until you have your own needs met. You are the best version of yourself when your own basic needs and wants are taken care of and you have the energy and ability to begin helping others. Help yourself first and then you will be better equipped to help others. When you begin neglecting yourself, you need to re-establish boundaries.

A colleague who is experiencing burnout is an unfortunate scene in the professional environment post pandemic. The way I have balanced my wellbeing and offer support is by firstly asking, ‘are you okay? I see (provide factual examples of what I have seen) these happen, This is not you, how can I help you’. If the colleague seeks help then I refer them to professionals that the colleague can talk to. I have seen people jumping to conclusions and offering advice like ‘take time off, etc’. These sort of behaviour undermines the strength the colleague has to take care of themselves and disrespects their capabilities. By offering a space to listen and help them seek professional help, one can balance offering support and protect one wellbeing.

What’s helped me tremendously is pushing myself & weight lifting 4x a week. I know it sounds crazy, but I reached a low point & my bf suggested I try working out to gain energy. I also cook all of my food from scratch & freeze it for convenience foods on my days in too tired to cook. Having nutrient rich food is sooo key to overcoming mental health issues. Focusing on repairing gut health & not giving up on yourself!

Boundaries are essential when you are trying to beat burnout. Stick to your boundaries to ensure that you are prioritising your own health and wellbeing while supporting your colleague. Be mindful of the energy you are giving your colleague to ensure you don't deplete your 'tank'.

This is tough, but I always come back to the airplane, too, Kory. You must take care of yourself - or at least treat yourself with the same lovingkindness you'd treat those you care about and for - this is essential to helping others and keeping that delicate balance. Back to the oxygen on a tanking airplane- If you don't fix yours first, you won't be there to help anyone else-

Encourage self-care: Remind your colleague of the importance of self-care and encourage them to prioritize activities that promote well-being, such as getting enough sleep, exercising, and practicing relaxation techniques. Delegate when necessary: Delegate tasks or seek additional support from other colleagues or managers if you feel overwhelmed or unable to provide the necessary support alone.

You can't help someone without helping yourself first. So make sure you're on track, that can mean setting daily reminders or having a healthy "to -do list" making sure you're eating fruit or going for a walk. That way you're at your best to help.

One of the best ways to demonstrate what you want your colleagues to do is to demonstrate that yourself. That means proactively taking time away from work & not responding to emails, or taking meaningful time for yourself. Seeing a leader who models some of these traits, and many others, can empower their colleagues to be willing to do the same.

Modeling healthy habits can positively influence your colleague and promote a culture of well-being. Prioritize self-care by taking regular breaks, managing stress, and maintaining a work-life balance. Share your strategies for staying healthy and productive, such as exercise routines, mindfulness practices, or time management techniques. Demonstrating these behaviors sets a positive example and encourages your colleague to adopt similar practices. Leading by example fosters a supportive environment where well-being is prioritized, benefiting the entire team.

Leading by example can significantly impact your colleague’s recovery from burnout. Demonstrating healthy habits such as taking regular breaks, exercising, and disconnecting from work after hours sets a positive example. When my team saw me prioritizing self-care, they felt encouraged to do the same. Studies indicate that employees are 2.3 times more likely to be engaged at work when they see their leaders modeling healthy behaviors. By prioritizing your well-being, you can inspire your colleagues to adopt similar practices, contributing to a healthier workplace.

You are not alone in this, it's a lot easier to go out and talk with someone than sometimes we think. Going and trying to do everything yourself rarely gets you to the desired result you want. Linkedin and Twitter are great avenues to start.

There's a very good reason why you're told to place the oxygen mask on yourself, before you help others on an airplane. Check in with yourself before you extend a hand to others. You may already be at capacity which doesn't help anyone.

Seeking support for yourself is crucial when helping a colleague with burnout. Utilize available resources such as employee assistance programs, counseling services, or support groups. Talk to your manager or HR about your concerns and seek guidance on how to balance your responsibilities. Sharing the load and seeking advice can alleviate your own stress and prevent burnout. Ensuring you have the necessary support enables you to remain resilient and effective in your role while supporting your colleague.

In today’s tech-heavy world seeking help from a digital wellness specialist is the fastest way for computer-based colleagues suffering from burnout to get relief far greater than peer support, business coaching, or general therapy. ????Referring a colleague to a specialized digital wellness coach will help them realize they have options beyond what they have probably already tried on their own. ??The complexities of the brain-body connections and cognitive overwhelm and “burnout” can be efficiently addressed by a digital wellness coach. As the founder of Screen Time Clinic, I can vouch for the quality of our coaches who specialize in this area with best in class advice and proven methods to help professionals thrive.

Supporting a colleague with burnout can be challenging, and seeking additional support from HR or professional counselors can be beneficial. I suggested my colleague speak with our workplace counselor when the situation became overwhelming. Professional guidance can provide valuable strategies for managing stress and burnout. According to the American Psychological Association, access to professional support significantly improves employees' mental health and well-being. Don’t hesitate to leverage available resources to ensure both you and your colleague receive the necessary support.

Before you offer help, let's make sure: 1. Your cup is full. 2. You've poured into you. 3. You're clear on what they need. I'm a big fan of putting on your oxygen mask first AND then giving it to others. Assuming that's all good. Try this (assuming there's trust) 1. Lead with empathy. 2. Ask how you are doing. 3. Say I noticed this specific thing. Don't say: 1. Get sleep 2. You'll be fine. 3. It's not too bad. The key here is to listen. And ask open-ended questions. Remember, they aren't always looking for conversation; they might just need someone to listen. You must also be mindful of not taking on too much emotional burden. Because your colleague may need professional help because recovery can be long.

Creating a culture of continuous feedback and open communication is essential. Encourage regular check-ins and create a safe space for discussing mental health openly. Implement wellness programs and workshops to educate employees on managing stress and burnout. Additionally, ensure that adequate resources such as counseling services and stress management tools are available to support the entire team. Fostering a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their challenges can significantly reduce burnout rates and enhance overall productivity and well-being.

Encourage Professional Help: Suggest that your colleague seek help from a mental health professional. While your support is valuable, professional assistance is crucial for dealing with burnout. Share the Load: If possible, distribute the colleague's workload among team members to prevent any single person from becoming overwhelmed. Self-Care: Prioritize your own mental and physical health. Ensure you are getting enough rest, exercise, and time for relaxation.

The old principle still applies: nurture yourself first! Fill your own cup first, so you are serving others from the overflow of your abundance—not from the dregs of your cup.

Take a close look at your benefits and determine what services are available for support. A lot of times, an organizaron may have an employee assistance program (EAP), which, if you’ve not leveraged it before, can connect someone to a plethora of resources - not just mental health, but physician, emotional, and at times, can be leveraged for the whole family!