Burnout Prevention and Recovery for Women in Social Housing

By Michelle Haycox

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To accompany our next online webinar - Empathy Burnout we have a series of blogs to highlight burnout and ways that may help recognise signs and how to find ways to overcome them.

Our first blog introduces what burnout is and identifies the first signs.

Working in social housing is incredibly rewarding but equally demanding, especially for women who often juggle multiple roles at home and in their professional lives. The pressures of providing support for vulnerable communities, handling complex cases, and managing the emotional and physical demands of the job can lead to burnout, which is unfortunately all too common in this field.

Burnout doesn't happen overnight, it’s a gradual process, often marked by exhaustion, frustration, and feelings of helplessness

Nick Petrie a Leadership Researcher, conducted a study a couple of years ago and identified 3 degrees of burning, it’s a slippery slope and it’s not caused by ‘x’ and the solution is not ‘y’

1st degree burn usually falls under the radar.? It’s a period of heavy stress and feelings of overwhelm, but people continue to work effectively

2nd-degree burn is chronic stress, feelings of fatigue along with decreasing motivation and effectiveness, the shift is into ‘survival mode’

3rd degree burn is the full experience of burnout.? Mind and body start to shut down, simple tasks become unmanageable, and emotions become unpredictable and hard to control, It’s crisis mode.

How line managers behave and the relationships they build are instrumental in how effectively they support employee whole being. But what is the impact when managers are overwhelmed with new pressures and struggle to keep themselves, let alone their teams engaged, motivated and valued?

Unfortunately, it is mainly your high performers, the most committed, collaborative and hardworking people who sacrifice themselves and suffer.

Recognising the signs early and taking proactive steps toward prevention and recovery can make a world of difference. Here’s a guide to help you prioritise your well-being and maintain your passion for the vital work you're doing.

Before you can prevent or recover from burnout, it’s essential to recognise its signs. Symptoms can vary and it’s all individual, but often include:

·?????? Physical exhaustion: Feeling drained, even after a full night’s sleep.

·?????? Emotional exhaustion: A sense of being overwhelmed, cynical, or detached from your work.

·?????? Reduced performance: Difficulty focusing or completing tasks efficiently.

·?????? Isolation: Withdrawing from colleagues, friends, and family.

·?????? Loss of passion: Feeling disconnected from the impact of your work or questioning your purpose.

If you notice these signs in yourself, it’s crucial to take immediate steps to address them before they escalate. Our next blog will look further into these methods.