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Burnout is work related chronic stress related illness which presents itself with signs that are physical, behavioural and emotional. Common symptoms, often include, exhaustion, lowered immunity, loss of appetite and muscle pains, often accompanied with a negative attitude and high levels of disengagement at work. Burnout is one of the biggest occupational hazards of the 21st century. According to a Mental Health Foundation survey, 74% of people reported feeling so stressed in the past year that they were unable to cope.
Levels of stress and subsequent burnout are rising year on year and are set to cost employers in the US, therefore its important that employers take note and take care of their employees health and wellness, before the long term effects start to arise.
What causes stress and burnout?
Worrying about the health or well-being of family, money or the pressure to succeed at work are common leading causes of stress.
Burnout can arise for many reasons including work overload and not re-charging properly, including poor dietary habits and lack of exercise.
Although we know what triggers stress and burnout, how can we prevent it?
According to Forth, 85% of US adults are experiencing stress regularly, and 39% of US adults admit that they feel too stressed in their day-to-day lives. These statistics emphasise the need for change as stress is associated with other health implications including obesity and diabetes, anxiety and depression.
Tips to reduce stress:
-Get into nature: Being in nature is a great, natural way to reduce stress levels
-Exercise daily: Exercise releases feel good hormones; serotonin and dopamine that help to boost mood
-Reduce your screen time: With our workload and the increased use of social media, increasing your tech free time can really help reduce stress. It can be beneficial to assign certain times each day without your phone or computer.
Burnout can also impact health, making individuals feel exhausted and disengaged. By building your stress resilience this can also help to prevent burnout.
Tips to prevent burnout:
-Engagement: Remind yourself why you do what you do and bring meaning to your job
-Growth mindset: Thinking differently and choosing to grow from mistakes will help to thrive, not fall
-Identify what is toxic: By pinpointing the things that are getting you down or keeping you stuck you can choose to react to these things differently or if necessary speak to someone about them.
What you put in your body can have a huge impact on your mood and energy levels throughout the day, therefore its important that you follow a healthy diet and reduce consumption of foods which can have an adverse affect on your mood and overall sense of wellbeing.
