Burnout is more than just a bad day at work; it's a prolonged response to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

The causes of burnout are multifaceted and can stem from excessive workload, lack of control, unclear expectations, poor work-life balance, inadequate support, values misalignment, lack of recognition, and workplace conflict.

Burnout can manifest in various forms, affecting one's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Symptoms may include persistent fatigue, reduced performance, increased cynicism or detachment, feelings of helplessness, and changes in sleep patterns or appetite.

Contact me to discuss how coaching can help you and your teams address burnout.

While many articles about burnout reference self-care as a preventative measure, I’m leery of pushing the self-care narrative – which puts the onus on the individual and ignores the responsibility of organizations in creating healthy workplaces, promoting open communication, and ensuring sustainable workloads.

However, at the individual level, maintaining clear boundaries is critical. This includes limiting overtime, taking regular breaks, and avoiding the temptation to constantly check work-related messages outside of working hours.

There’s a lot more to be said about burnout – check out these researchers and authors:

Christina Maslach: Psychologist known for her pioneering work on burnout, and co-developer of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a widely used tool for measuring burnout.

Emily and Amelia Nagoski: The Nagoski sisters co-authored Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, which provides insights into the science of stress and practical strategies to complete the stress cycle and prevent burnout.

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