Why more women than men burnout

Just over a decade ago, I well and truly burnt out, working as a senior commercial manager in the Food industry. I talk about it openly now (believe me, I didn’t for years as I held onto the shame, along with the mental and physical scars) to help others to notice the signs and to prevent it happening to them.

I now work with women across the Food industry to help them have success without burning out.

So what is burnout and why does it affect more women than men??

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and is a phenomenon that affects both men and women. However, women are more likely to experience burnout, and it can be caused by a variety of factors such as societal expectations, work-life balance, and discrimination.

A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that women were more likely to experience burnout than men, with rates of burnout among women being as much as 1.5 times higher than among men.

One major factor that contributes to burnout in women is the pressure to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Women are often expected to take on a greater share of caregiving and household responsibilities in addition to their professional duties. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion, as women try to balance the demands of work and home life.

It’s not all our fault!

Another factor that can contribute to burnout in women is discrimination and bias in the workplace. Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions and often face discrimination in the industry (if you’re a man reading this and it makes you feel uncomfortable, then please take note, that’s how we feel a lot of the time). This can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation, which can contribute to stress and ultimately feeling undervalued and burnt out.

So what can we do??

To address these issues, it's important for us to prioritise ourselves more and set boundaries to protect our time and energy (easier said than done!)

This can include being realistic about what you can get done in a day (we have a tendency to over estimate!) delegating tasks better (not shielding our team by burning out ourselves!) and taking time to relax and recharge.?

It’s also important for us to build a support system of friends, family, and colleagues who can offer encouragement and help them navigate the challenges of work and home life.

Employers play a massive role in preventing burnout by promoting a culture of work-life balance, offering flexible working, and providing resources and support for employees who are experiencing burnout.?

It’s also important to say that employers need to take steps to address discrimination and bias in the workplace, and actively promote and support women in leadership roles.

Burnout is a significant problem for women, particularly in this post pandemic landscape - we are all knackered!

It’s important for both individuals and employers to take steps to prevent and address it. By prioritising self-care, setting boundaries, and building a support system, women can reduce their risk of burnout.?

Employers can help prevent burnout by promoting a culture of work-life balance, offering more flexibility (which sadly I’m seeing reduce back again post pandemic) and addressing discrimination and bias in the workplace.?

Ultimately, by working together, we can create a more supportive and sustainable workplace for women in the food industry.?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you see more women than men facing burnout?

If you’d like to hear more about my burnout story, then you can listen to this episode of The Oh for Foods Sake podcast.