5 Tips To Overcome Occupational Burnout In Companies
The most experienced team managers and CEOs know that salary is not, by any means, the only thing that employees expect the company they work for to provide them. Overlooking this fact can lead to creating work spaces that are a breeding ground for occupational burnout: a relatively common psychological problem, with effects both on the quality of life of those who suffer from it and on their performance and ability to adapt. of the organization.
Fortunately, There are many things that can be done to prevent and overcome burnout ; Here we will see the most important ones.
Occupational burnout syndrome, also known as “work burnout syndrome” or “burnout syndrome,” is a psychological disorder that is described in the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10, although not as a mental disorder, but in the section on “problems related to addressing life’s difficulties.”
It is a form of discomfort characterized by emotional flattening, emotional fatigue and loss of motivation and experiences linked to satisfaction, which is closely linked to the way in which the work context is experienced, as indicated your name. The syndrome can affect practically any worker profile, although it is estimated that it is especially widespread among professional work profiles facing the public and in other areas. positions where there is frequent interaction with many people and a heavy workload : the health field, education, social work, etc.
It is considered that occupational burnout is the product of the combination of several elements: on the one hand, constant or very repeated exposure to sources of stress and, on the other, a lack of incentives to get involved in work on an emotional level. This means that people who suffer from burnout are, in a way, stressed, and at the same time they do not show great interest in their work or feel satisfaction when completing important tasks. Besides, show some level of emotional dullness or even anhedonia (inability to fully experience pleasure or joy). These are workers who suffer from emotional exhaustion, which is different from the emotional hyperactivity and sensitivity to stimuli of those who are simply stressed and nothing more.
As we have seen, although there is currently debate over whether it can be considered a psychopathology or not, there is no doubt that occupational burnout syndrome is a phenomenon that must be taken into account both by companies and in the world. of mental health. Therefore, for years, psychological intervention strategies have been studied and applied that, whether in the field of psychotherapy or in organizations, help mitigate the symptoms of this problem and provide support to those who are in the process. to overcome burnout. In this sense, although the most effective way to put an end to it is personalized psychotherapeutic assistance, there are also a series of general advice to take into account by both the worker and the employers Let’s see what they are.
1. Time management is key
In some cases, the main cause of occupational burnout is simply economic and job insecurity; That is, the fact of finding yourself in a situation in which, to reach your objectives, you have to work too many hours, with hardly any breaks or prospects for promotion in the company you are in. In these cases, the solution is never individual, and the person’s employment situation must change.
But in many other cases, Part of the problem is the worker’s poor management of his or her emotions , which usually leads to poor time management at work. And burnout syndrome, due to its combination of symptoms linked to stress and depressive-type alterations, makes the person perform much worse and is not even able to identify what is happening to them or that drop in performance.
Therefore, carrying out time management routines helps a lot to break this vicious circle and prevent work from accumulating. In this sense, it helps a lot to use clear schedules placed in a visible place and, at the same time, apply a strategy known as “action triggers”: for the worker to memorize the beginning of a certain task by doing it. at a specific time and place: “right after lunch, in the common room, I will go to my office and make the first call to a client.”
2. Mindfulness helps
Mindfulness exercises applied to everyday life are a very useful resource to mitigate both anxiety in general and stress linked to burnout in particular These practices inspired by meditation help the person focus their attention on the present moment and adopt a more constructive perspective about the work to be done and their possibilities for professional and personal development. Although the simplest mindfulness exercises can be learned in a matter of minutes on your own, the most complete ones require training and assistance from an instructor.
3. It is important to offer training programs in the work context
Some companies make the mistake of assuming that the only thing workers aspire to is to obtain a salary at the end of the month. But the truth is that work is just another part of life, and employees perceive it as such; thus, Organizations must adapt to these expectations of finding stimulating and motivating experiences in the work context and offer workshops, courses, etc.
Likewise, workers can organize to support each other as a group, helping to generate a good work environment and even carry out leisure activities or personal and professional development during moments of rest. Ultimately, these bonds with colleagues are also another facet of the working world, so they can be a source of motivation and satisfaction.
4. You have to stop comparing yourself with others
In the world of work it is easy to fall into the ultra-competitive dynamic of comparing yourself with the rest of the members of the company This is a trap that generates stress; As members of an organization, we almost never have a complete vision of our role in it or what we contribute to it, and if we become obsessed with this topic, the lack of information about it is likely to lead us to discouragement and constant stress.
5. You must maintain a comfortable workspace
Physical discomfort translates into emotional discomfort. If we are used to working in a messy or even physically uncomfortable place, we will associate that experience with the concept of “work” as a whole, without being aware that we are generalizing from a circumstantial fact (which we do not see as such because we contribute to that always stays afloat from our work routines).
That’s why, both to perform much better and finish all pending tasks on time and to feel better at work it is important to include small breaks in our schedule to tidy up, throw away unnecessary items (physical or digital), clean, etc.
Related article: “10 psychologically healthy daily habits, and how to apply them to your life”
