UPMC Health Plan’s Post

When the conditions and demands you encounter at work — like workload, level of autonomy, and norms of interpersonal behavior — exceed your capacity to handle them, you’re at risk of burning out. Burnout has three components: 😴exhaustion (lost energy), 🤨cynicism (lost enthusiasm), 😥and inefficacy (lost self-confidence and capacity to perform), You don’t have to be experiencing all three in order to suffer serious consequences How often are you experiencing burnout?

Monique Valcour PhD PCC - author of this HBR article - says we have the right to have work that enriches and enlivens us, rather than diminishing us. I believe work should stretch not stress. This article - although written in 2018 - is well worth a read if you're smelling smoke and recognise that you may need a break at Burnout Hotel. The 5 questions at the end are especially useful to contemplate, if you're wondering if it's time to consider working elsewhere. #EmployeeExperience #Burnout #StressManagement #TakeCareOfYou

When the conditions and demands you encounter at work exceed your capacity to handle them, you’re at risk of burning out. And unfortunately, suffering employees are often left to manage burnout on their own. Many find that leaving the organization is the only remedy. How do you know when it’s time to call it quits? Ask yourself the following questions: Does your job/employer enable you to be the best version of yourself? How well does your job/employer align with your values and interests? What does your future look like in your job/organization? And what is burnout costing you in terms of your health, career prospects, psychological well-being, and relationships? If you conclude that leaving your job or organization is the right course of action for you, you’ve already turned a corner. You may not be able to quit immediately. But you can begin to lay the groundwork: Put aside extra savings, update your résumé, reach out to network contacts, spread the word that you’d like a new job, get a coach, or sign up for an online course. The journey back to thriving begins with actions like these. #burnout

How to avoid burnout: Burnout isn’t nearly as much of an issue when you’re winning. I’ve never gotten to a point of burnout by working hard and actually accomplishing something I cared about. In my experience burnout happens when you’re working hard and NOT accomplishing anything. If you’re making progress but still getting burnt out, you might be using the wrong metric for measuring progress. Or even worse; measuring the wrong thing altogether. Know yourself well enough to know what’s important to you and what progress in that area actually looks like. That’s how to avoid burnout. P.S. There’s a big difference between being burnt out and also being tired from working so hard and needing a break.

If you are feeling burned out, this is what has helped me: * Write down which things you enjoyed before and those that you do not longer want to keep doing. * Speak to your supervisor, and if you have one that is not approachable, speak with the person you consider your mentor or coach and that can provide with unbiased feedback. * If you don’t like what you are doing now, then ask yourself what I can do that will have an impact and value to my company and my group. * Yes, it is written everywhere, but balance between your personal life and work it is important. * Say NO. Do not say yes to every “urgent” task or favor. Even if you want to do it, the day does not have infinite hours. If you have too much in your plate because of you offering to do it and you do not complete the task, this increase anxiety and feelings of disappointment, besides you could very well affecting the results and solutions for your project or functions. * Are there interesting opportunities within the same company? Explore them.

6 Causes of Burnout, and How to Avoid Them

My work with hope theory affirms an article like this. Aspirations are vital to the lifeblood of vision. How do you see yourself in the near future - two years from now, five years? Can you mark your pathways? Do you feel yourself as an agent of positive change? Are you surrounded with champions that will hold you accountable? This is a thought provoking article on when to call it quits. “What does your future look like in your job/organization? Zoom out and take a long-term perspective to assess whether you’ve hit a short-term rough patch or a long-term downward slide. Do you recognize yourself in senior members of the organization?” 👈🏻Great Q’s Do you see yourself aspiring to become like those who lead you? Are you thriving no matter the challenges? Do you believe there’s a hopeful vision for your future? #leadershipreflections

Burnout is common, especially in our radically fast, post-COVID lives. Burnout or potential burnout is a great reason to engage a recovery or change coach. #recoverycoach #changecoach #recovery #recoverysupport #burnout #executivecoach #notalifecoach #mentalhealth

Some great thought to consider as a beginning of this conversation with yourself or your team ( seeing / recognizing signs of burnout is crucial for a strong leader ). Be mindful that demands include not only the “physical” demands and responsibilities of a job but also the emotional demands. Also consider that under-demands can drive a sense of burnout ( one “can’t handle” the lack of challenge or lack of usage of one’s intellect) as well as over demands. The need for balance ( and autonomy, respect, intellectual challenge, etc)is real and drives one’s perception of their work and organization. This can lead one to feel bonded to the organization as well drive their need to feel burned out and their desire to “ move on”

Excellent article Harvard Business Review and i especially love the call to action at the end which is essentially about taking back control…. “maybe today is the day that you begin to lay the groundwork: Put aside extra savings, update your résumé, reach out to network contacts, spread the word that you’d like a new job, get a coach, or sign up for an online course. The journey back to thriving begins with actions like these” I, like so many others, have been there, done that and thankfully living my best life as a result! #worklifeblance #wellbeingintheworkplace