“Burnout is not a condition that gets better by being ignored.” - Herbert Freudenberger
This morning at work, I noticed that my internet stick wasn’t working properly. The connection was flaking in and out. I touched the device, and it was hot to the touch. I disconnected it, let it cool off, and a few minutes later tried again. Whaddaya know? It still didn’t work.
That wasn’t funny. What was, was that I was in middle of writing an article about burnout (yes, this article).
Before I tackle that lovely metaphor, let’s start at the beginning.
What is burnout?
According to merriam-webster.com, burnout is “the condition of someone who has become very physically and emotionally tired after doing a difficult job for a long time.” Burnout is characterized by exhaustion and an inability to maintain previous levels of functioning. While certain professions have higher levels of burnout, anyone can experience burnout when they are under continual stress, work long hours, and feel unappreciated.
If this sounds familiar, you might want to take a online self-test to check your risk for burnout.
My net stick did start working again. But not right away. If you are feeling burnt out, you need support. It might be helpful to take time off of work, reevaluate your priorities, or make an appointment to see a mental health professional. Take the time to take care of you.
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