The honest truth about burnout

Burnout! This is a topic I am very passionate about as I myself have had the great fortune of burning out. I say great fortunate because I am still here to write about it. I am not only here to write about it but I was gifted the opportunity to change my life.

Our bodies give us so many vital signals yet the body is often trumped by the mind. We keep telling ourselves these lies about our actual state and even convince ourselves that we are okay, we will shake it off. Of all the flaws that exist in the system?of work, I want to commend the labour gods or whomever for coming up with the notion of leave. Something that most people think is for building up your savings in an organisation to cash out upon your departure. You don’t know how precious time off work is until you are heading off the burn out cliff.

I do not live with much regret in my life but looking back at all those long and gruesome corporate days, I cannot help but be filled with sorry emotions. Sorry for what I let my body go through, sorry for not listening when it told me, rest. Sorry for the many times I snuck out to the bathroom to respond to emails whilst my family and I were on some exotic vacation. Sorry I never showed up to my children’s ballet practice or their soccer tournaments. Sorry that I couldn’t hear my husband tell me how tough his day was because I was too busy responding to emails and putting out fires whilst I was meant to be staring at his eyes and extending a comforting shoulder. Sorry that I didn’t know what I know now. But, how can I be sorry, when was I working hard to make sure my children never beg for a plate of food, forget them, to make sure I never beg for anything. Poverty is not something I had read about or watched on the television, I knew it first-hand. So, yes how can I be sorry when what seemed to be the only option was to work myself to the bone so that every generation after me can have a better life. How could I be sorry when I was doing it for my family.?

This is the conundrum…

Addressing and preventing burnout poses a serious conundrum. This can include conflicting demands and expectations from employees, employers, and society as a whole. Also a lack of recognition and support for work-personal balance, and societal pressure to constantly be productive and successful. Gaining success and maintaining it is an extreme sport. Whilst success is relative, our starting points also contribute to the extremity with which you have to fight to succeed.?

This conundrum also involves the difficulty in diagnosing and treating burnout, as it often requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both individual and systemic factors. Addressing the burnout conundrum requires a cultural shift in how work and success are valued, as well as concrete actions from individuals, organizations, and policymakers to prioritize well-being and prevent burnout.

In this new world of work from home, I am pleased to start seeing more people going back to the office because I am for separation between work and home. We need sanctuaries. Whilst I appreciate the flexibility this new way of work has brought on, mental wellness has tanked to all-time lows. We are spiritual creatures that require community, like it or not, water cooler conversation is part of a community. Feeling connected to others, driving towards one goal rejuvenates us. Well, it is meant to, within the right boundaries, something many struggle with. It is not just the setting of boundaries but upholding them. All we did largely was plonk work on our dining tables. My hope is that we have learnt our lessons na can create better working conditions and cultures that do not reward working like we are mere robots.

So, what is it exactly?

Burnout is a real phenomenon, not just a buzzword or a lack of motivation. First coined in 1974 by Herbert Freudenberger in his book Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. He defined burnout as “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results”. It is a state of extreme emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by chronic stress and excessive demands. It is really a reaction to prolonged stress. It can affect every sphere of your life. In fact burnout shares symptoms with some mental health conditions such as depression. It truly is not to be taken lightly.?

It can affect people in any profession or industry, not just those in high-pressure jobs. It can have serious consequences on one's physical and mental health, relationships, and work performance. It is not solely a personal failure, but often results from unrealistic expectations brought on by amongst others, the need to succeed and be at the top of your game, always. There is a reason why some environments and industries are called “cut-throat”. You will never get it until you have been through it. How could we glorify extreme stress like this? It all seems incredibly unnecessary considering the cost.?

Why women burnout more than men

It is common knowledge backed by extensive research that women are more susceptible and in fact do burn out more than men do. Women have the added pressure of having to prove that we are good enough to take on the high pressure roles and that we deserve a seat at the table. As a result there is constant fear of failure and therefore proving that women do not deserve the big roles. Add to this the pressure to represent every woman that walks the face of the earth along with their offspring and theirs too. It’s a lot. It sure does become a self-fulling prophecy.

Societal attitudes towards women and burnout can vary widely depending on cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors. However, some common attitudes include:

???Blaming women for "not being able to handle" their responsibilities: Women may be seen as weak or not dedicated to their work if they experience burnout.

???Minimizing the issue: Burnout may be seen as a "first world problem" or as a lack of motivation, rather than a serious issue with real consequences.

???Stigma around seeking help: Women may be discouraged from seeking help or discussing their experiences due to shame or stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Here are some more of the factors contributing to this state of affairs

???Gender roles and expectations: Women often face societal pressure to fulfil traditional caregiving roles in?addition to paid work, leading to increased workload and stress.

???Work-personal conflict: Women are more likely to have responsibilities outside of work, such as caregiving, which can lead to burnout as they struggle to balance these demands.

???Gender pay gap: Women often earn less than men for the same work, leading to financial stress and insecurity.

???Sexual harassment and discrimination: Women are more likely to experience gender-based harassment and discrimination, adding to their overall stress levels.

???Lack of support and recognition: Women may face obstacles to advancement and recognition in male-dominated industries, further exacerbating work-related stress.

It is important to note that these factors can vary greatly by culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and individual experiences, and that not all women experience burnout to the same degree. Addressing the causes of burnout for women requires addressing systemic and cultural barriers, as well as providing support and resources to help women balance their responsibilities.

Here are some sure signs you are burning out and what to do about it

???Physical exhaustion

???Emotional depletion

???Sense of failure and self-doubt

???Detachment and feeling alone

???Your effort is no longer enough

???Increasingly cynical and despondent

???Decreased sense of achievement

???Decreased motivation

???Increased irritability and anxiety

???Feelings of overwhelm and hopelessness

???General sense of being unwell

Below are some health signs to look out for that may indicate you are burning out

·???????High blood pressure

·???????Poor immune function and getting sick more often

·???????Re-occurring headaches, migraines

·???????Inability to sleep

·???????Depressed mood

·???????Loss of interest?and generally feeling unwell

·???????Chronic fatigue?

·???????Loss of pleasure and generally feeling like tapping out

All is not lost as you can combat and recover from burnout. It sure does take a while to recover if you are lucky enough to be alive but many, sadly, suffer long term effects

???Take breaks and prioritize self-care. Engage in activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as exercise, relaxation, and sleep.

???Take your leave and stay present in the reason you are on leave

???Create boundaries and limit work-personal overlap

???Engage in physical activity and pursue hobbies

???Re-evaluate and adjust workload or set realistic goals.

???Remember what is most important in your life.?

???Reassess the price you are willing to pay.

???Re-evaluate your relationship with work.

???Understanding the reasons why you do what you do can help unlock your healing.

???Openly talk about not coping and stop the “rescue everyone but myself syndrome”.

???Practice mindfulness.

???Listen to your body clues. The body never lies.

???Watch what you eat.?

???Get plenty of sleep.

???Mind your practices prior to sleep. They determine the quality of your sleep.?

???Learn to say no to additional demands that will serve you.

???Connect with family, friends, or a therapist to discuss feelings and find coping strategies.

???Consider taking a break from work or taking a leave of absence to fully recharge.

???Take time to reflect on the causes of burnout and make changes to prevent it from happening again.

???Consider adjusting your workload, seeking a new job, or making other changes to reduce?

It's important to remember that recovery from burnout is a process and that it may take time. It's also important to seek help if needed and to make changes to prevent burnout from happening again in the future. The real goal here is to avoid it from happening to begin with because once it does, often you have no control over the degree of impact not just to you but your loved ones too.?

Burnout is a collective issue and needs everyone in the ecosystem to care. You are no good to your family when you have burnt out. So it is counterproductive not to look after your wellbeing. Organisations lose critical skills due to burnout. Succession is prohibited because people, women in particular opt out of the workplace as a result of a system that enables burnout. This only exacerbates the issue of inequality and we simply cannot be working backwards.?

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