|
No two experiences of burnout are exactly alike. To recover, you first need to understand what your burnout is trying to tell you. Here are three common messages your burnout might be trying to communicate—and what to do about them. You’re expected to over-index on work. Research has consistently shown that chronic overwork leads to a decrease in productivity, higher absenteeism and turnover, poorer health, and yes, burnout. If this is your experience, it’s time to invest in your rest and recovery, communicate and maintain your boundaries regarding when you are—and are not—available, and resist the temptation to check in after work hours. You’ve outgrown your role. While overwork is a well-known cause of burnout, feeling chronically underutilized can also be a culprit. If you’re persistently restless, bored, directionless, disengaged, or not challenged at work, it’s likely you’ve outgrown your current role and are ready for a new chapter. If this is the case, do some self-reflection: What career would make you feel rejuvenated? Identify some possibilities, then take the first step in pursuing them. This job is not what you signed up for. Do you feel a disconnect between what you expected when you were hired and what you actually experience at work? Pinpointing the exact misalignment is the key to resolving it. Is it your workload? Your day-to-day responsibilities? Your work culture? Your compensation? Once you’ve identified the problem, work with your manager to address it. This tip is adapted from “Your Burnout Is Trying to Tell You Something,” by Kandi Wiens
|
