Low in energy? Lost your motivation?

Struggling to focus and finish tasks at home and at work?

You may well be suffering from burnout.

Research has shown that since lockdown ended, cases of burnout in the workplace are increasing.

As we adapt into a back to the office culture, in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and with many companies downsizing, it’s no wonder many of us feel the need to work as many hours as we can.

Yet all work and no play, can soon lead to us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and missing our usual get up and go.

So, how do you know if it’s just a period of stress, or something else? How do you spot the symptoms of burnout, and what can you, and your employer do to help?

Mark Martell, Co-founder of workplace mental health specialists – AzuraMinds – says:

“It’s important to understand the symptoms of burnout, and sooner, rather than later. Through our work in mental health as well as from our own personal experience, we’ve seen the longer burnout goes on without any measures being taken to acknowledge it, the longer recovery can take.”

Burnout can often be mistaken for stress. It can be all too easy to try to push through what you think is stress, but the two conditions are not the same.

Burnout out is a chronic condition, where ongoing periods of stress at home or at work have not been addressed over time.

While periods of stress may come and go, burnout is often more prolonged, with more severe symptoms.

Common symptoms of burnout

Spot the symptoms

Strong feelings of exhaustion or a total lack of energy

The fatigue that comes with burnout tends to not ebb and flow, like the tiredness you feel with periods of stress.

Burnout fatigue might feel more like you don’t have the energy to do the things you might normally do. It can feel like you’re running on empty and even periods of rest might not help.

Feeling unmotivated or stuck

When burnout has taken hold, it can be hard to see the ‘wood for the trees’.

Not knowing where to get started with work tasks or projects, feeling overwhelmed or not feeling as passionate about your work as you once did, are all key symptoms.

Feeling like you have ‘checked out’

Some people with burnout describe feeling distant or de-sensitised towards their work and home life. This feeling of disengagement is very common with burnout.

Feelings of negativity

Becoming uncharacteristically negative about your work, job, colleagues, or company is another sure sign of burnout.

So, what can you do about it?

It’s time for some self-care

Pushing through burnout will only lead to experiencing more prolonged symptoms. Now is the time to listen to your body and know when it’s saying, “look after me for a while.”

Focus on nutrition and your down time, and you’re taking a good first step in beating burnout.

Try not to take work home and set a clear boundary between work and home. Both will be all the better for it.

Tune in to your most productive time of the day

When you’re low on energy, take time to understand when you are at your most productive. Then time batch those challenging projects during these times. Don’t forget to take breaks at regular intervals too and stay hydrated.

Talk about it

We’ve talked in previous articles about the barriers in people talking about their mental health at work. “Will people think I’m not up to the job?” “Will it impact on my career prospects?”

The truth is, forward-thinking employers are putting a real emphasis on embracing positive mental health culture in the workplace. Making sure it is embedded and openly discussed, from the top down.

There is no shame in talking to your manager about a workload that is too large, asking for help in prioritising tasks together, and explaining how you are feeling.

Seek support

If your employer has a wellbeing programme in place – such as the ones we offer – do use it. AzuraMinds offers a completely confidential service with a range of practitioners at hand to help you with a holistic approach to support you.

Sessions take place off site, on neutral ground or virtually. If your employer does not have a wellbeing strategy in place yet, you can also self-refer to us.

What can employers do to help?

We’ve talked a lot about how employers can help, by embedding staff wellbeing as a part of their company DNA. This can then become a blueprint for positive workplace mental health, in the same way as annual leave or professional development.

Staff want employers to care about their wellbeing and provide solutions for them that can be taken up in full confidentiality.

This is welcomed by staff, and research shows a growing trend for prospective and current employees expecting this to be a given in their employment package.

If you want to find out how we can help your organisation get started, contact us to find out more.