The Burnout Equation

In science, an equation is a statement that two things are equal. First, it is a way of representing a relationship between two variables. One must first identify the variables involved and determine their relationship to create an equation. For example, in the equation E=mc^2, E represents energy, m represents mass, and c represents the speed of light. The relationship between these variables is that energy equals mass times the speed of light squared.

Burnout occurs when:?

Energy Outputs are > Energy Inputs

Burnout occurs when energy outputs are greater than energy inputs. This can happen when someone is working too hard and not getting enough rest. Over time, this can lead to feelings of exhaustion and disillusionment. Burnout can also occur when someone is not challenged enough in their work. This can lead to boredom and a sense of purposelessness. In either case, finding a balance between work and rest is essential to prevent burnout.

Burnout does not have to be inevitable, but for many of us, this is a reality. Experiencing burnout does not mean you are weak or lack talent or dedication.? It often happens to high-achievers who are driven, passionate people. So if you're struggling with burnout, it's essential to understand that you're not alone and that there is hope.

We live in such a fast-moving world that there is hardly any time to stop, look within, and realize what we truly need. Many people that suffer from burnout only stop to understand what is happening when they are already burned out. There are a million things and very little time to do them, so taking a self-audit of ourselves becomes challenging. However, it is essential to realize that you are handling all the seemingly important things to you, and once you break down, they will either stall or life will go on without you.??

You owe yourself the time to sit quietly and take stock of yourself, including your physical and mental health. Ask yourself how you feel about things and take note of signs and symptoms that may be cropping up. Remember that prevention is always better than cure; catching issues as they arise allows for easier management. If you haven't been having quiet self-evaluation meetings with yourself and are currently at chronic exhaustion, don't beat yourself up. You are not alone. Sometimes, you may even see the signs of burnout, but you may need to figure out what to do about them. Millions of employees across the world are similarly battling burnout and the effects it is having on their professional and personal lives.?

Let us look deeper into the general causes of burnout in a regular workplace or at home. Look around and see if these factors exist, and you may learn why you are getting burnout.?

1. Lack of control - If you cannot influence the decisions that affect your work, either at home or the office, like your workload, assignments, and schedules, you could quickly get burnout. Additionally, lacking the necessary resources to perform your work effectively can lead to burnout.?
2. Dysfunctional workplace dynamics - If, for instance, you work with a bully, your colleagues constantly undermine you, or your boss micromanages you, you can end up very stressed, and if the situation continues, you could quickly end up with burnout. The condition of your workplace greatly determines if you get burnout.?
3. Undefined or unclear job expectations - Many people plan their day before it even begins. Imagine showing up at work while still determining what tasks to undertake or what is expected of you. If you are in such a position, you will also need to know what degree of authority you have. Being in such an environment can be quite frustrating, can make you uncomfortable, and contribute to stress and burnout.?
4. Lack of social support - If you lack the social capital to keep your life engaged, either at work or in your personal life, you will likely feel a pinch of isolation and get stressed. Everyone needs people to confide in and share life with. Not having this can cause burnout because you carry the entire load without sharing it with anyone.?
5. Extremes of activity - If you are constantly engaged in either a messy job or a monotonous one, you will either get bored and need more energy to get through your day, or the chaos will need you to be alert all the time and similarly spend lots of energy. The extremes of activities can easily lead to fatigue and burnout.?
6. Work-life imbalance - You must be able to sign off work and sign in to you, do what you like, and spend some time with yourself, away from all the hustle and bustle. If you lack the time for yourself, your friends, your family, or even your pets, you may end up with burnout.?
7. Overwhelming workload - Although there could be other factors at play, having an overwhelming workload only means that you are constantly under stress, tired, and lack the time for other activities such as relaxation. If you are always overwhelmed by work, you will likely become burned out.?
8. Conflict of values - Sometimes, you may work in a place that promotes different values than what you believe in. For example, if there is a disconnect between your values and those of the organization, you may feel pressured to do things you do not like or practice what you don’t think is right, which can cause burnout.?
9. Insufficient rewards - Most people wake up in the morning to go to work mainly for the money and recognition, but primarily for the money. Working hard without getting reasonable compensation or credit can be frustrating and can lead to burnout.?
10. Unfair policies and decision-makers- Fairness is not universal but desirable in every workplace. For example, suppose you are in a workplace that is not fair in its decisions and practices inequality in handling such things as promotions, grievances, and evaluations. In that case, you could be on the way to burnout.

You are in control of your life, do not allow burnout to drag you through it. Burnout does not happen overnight but tends to creep up on you. If you are not careful, you could realize you have burnout when the situation is already dire.

The good news is that you do not have to live with burnout. There are many strategies that you can use to beat burnout. You could turn to other people for help, reframe how you view your work, reevaluate your priorities, and set them straight.?

Some lifestyle choices include exercising more, eating healthy, and getting to the root cause of burnout so you can find the right solution.