Are you Burnt Out?

By Kelly Bridgewater

Are you tired every day? Do you dread going to work? I notice I have been more negative at work especially during the summer time.

A fellow co-worker gave me this article, and it made me think. Maybe I am completely burnt out.

dreamtime.com

Overload Burnout

Overload burnout occurs when you work harder and more frantically to achieve success, often to the detriment of your health and personal life. This is the type of burnout that most people are familiar with, and it’s also the most common.

 

Overload burnout typically affects highly dedicated employees who feel obligated to work at an unsustainable pace. As a result, they drive themselves to the point of physical and mental exhaustion.

 

Professionals with overload burnout tend to cope by venting their emotions to others (i.e. complaining about how tired and overwhelmed they are). This subtype is also quick to jump into problem-solving mode, creating more work and responsibility for themselves, which only exacerbates their stress.

Signs to watch out for:

• You overlook your own needs or personal life to fulfill work demands
• You invest more than is healthy in your commitment to your career or ambitions
• You endanger your well-being to achieve your goals

 

Under-Challenged Burnout

You might be surprised to find out that burnout can result from doing too little. Under-challenged burnout could be considered the opposite of the overload subtype. It occurs when you’re bored and not stimulated by your job, which leads to a lack of motivation. People with under-challenged burnout may feel underappreciated and become frustrated because their role lacks learning opportunities, room for growth, or meaningful connection with co-workers and leadership.

Workers who feel their tasks are monotonous and unfulfilling tend to lose passion and become cynical and lethargic. They cope with the stress of being under-challenged through avoidance — distraction, dissociation, or thought suppression (i.e. ordering themselves to “Stop thinking about that”).

Signs to watch out for:

• You would like to work on assignments and tasks that are more challenging
• You feel your job does not offer you opportunities to develop your abilities
• You feel that your current role is hampering your ability to advance and develop your talents

 

How about you? Are you experiencing either or both of these? I am experiencing both in my job and my personal life?

 

3 Types of Burnout, and How to Overcome Them (hbr.org)