Why Burnout is a Serious Problem for Modern Professionals
For many people, work is not simply a means of gaining income. Rather, their job provides them with a sense of social identity. Yet, this isn't always a good thing. Indeed, excessive work –– or stress related to work –– can cause professionals to suffer from the debilitating phenomenon known as burnout. Though this issue might have once been dismissed as temporary or trivial, the reality is that burnout can affect people in serious ways. And this is a problem facing individuals as well as corporations.
Signs & Symptoms of Burnout
Burnout is more than a mental or emotional condition. While burnout does begin as an emotional reaction to dissatisfaction at work, it can manifest in physical ways as well. People who have suffered from burnout before report a myriad of physical symptoms such as:
â— Insomnia.
â— Fatigue.
â— Chest pain.
â— Loss of appetite.
â— Headaches.
â— Stomach/bowel problems.
The unfortunate truth is that burnout can have long-lasting, physical effects.
Prevalence of Burnout
Perhaps what’s most frightening about occupational burnout is that it’s not an uncommon issue. Consider for instance that 85% of employees are either not engaged or actively disengaged with their work. Of course, not everyone who doesn’t feel positive about their job is suffering from burnout, but a good many employees are. In addition, the average American worker clocks in more than 40 hours on average every week. Low engagement combined with heavy workloads is a recipe for burnout.
The Nature of the Problem
Obviously, the health and wellness of professionals is the number-one priority when discussing a problem like burnout. But it’s not the only one. One survey found that disengaged or unhappy employees cost the U.S. around $450-$550 billion every single year. This is a troubling factor that can shape businesses moving forward. Again, it’s worth emphasizing that burnout is not just an individual problem –– it’s a widespread complication that hinders almost every industry.
Combating Burnout
As one might imagine, taking a break from work is one of the most straightforward ways to combat burnout. Still, employees shouldn’t have to work themselves into a state of exhaustion before they can relax. Rather, forward-thinking business leaders should implement work standards that protect workers from pushing themselves too hard. (Most of the time, it’s fine to file a report about cell culture flasks a day or two late, for instance.) Lastly, everyone should remember to speak with their doctor or a medical professional if they experience any signs or symptoms of burnout early on. Diagnosing and treating it can save people a lot of stress, frustration, money, and worry.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
