According to a prominent consulting firm in the United States, 95% of Human Resources employees say that employee burnout is sabotaging workforce retention.
Yes, you read that correctly.
95 PERCENT.
Let’s back up a bit. How do you know if you’re really burned out?
Here are a few easy-to-recognize signs of Burnout:
- Fatigue – this can present itself in a lack of energy, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, or completing the days tasks.
- Insomnia – Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling exhausted throughout the day.
- Impaired Mental Performance – Inability to focus, brain fog, lack of clarity in thought processes as well as forgetfulness.
- Physical Ailments – Aches and pains that are consistent and dull. Many people complain of back or neck pain when experiencing burnout.
- Decreased Immune Function – Burnout comes with a much higher risk of illness or disease because your immune system is depleted.
- Lack of Emotional Control – Burnout can cause individuals to experience emotional outbursts such as intense anger, sadness, elation, or any other inconsistent emotional behavior.
- Mental Health Struggles – Very common in burned-out individuals is anxiety, depression, and a sense of worthlessness or loneliness.
Of course, some of these signs and symptoms can be common in any day-to-day experience. So, just because your back hurts, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re burned out.
But, if you recognize a few or all of these signs in your life, it may be time to consider that you are dealing with burnout.
If you are, remember you’re not alone. In the above-mentioned statistic, many people in the workforce today are experiencing some if not all of the same symptoms.
So, how can you deal with burnout? How can the pattern be corrected?
Here are 3 simple steps to begin eliminating burnout:
- Enjoy
Spend time doing something every day that you enjoy! Don’t have time every day? Try once per week!
Try going for a walk with a loved one, practicing a new hobby, or going on a short vacation.
By introducing things that you enjoy back into your regular routine, you will massively reduce symptoms of burnout.
- Relax
One of the major causes of becoming burned out is stress. Take time to analyze your life as it currently is. What are a few stressors in your life that you could proactively get rid of?
Of course, we cannot get rid of all the things that cause stress in our lives… that would be impossible!
However, by replacing stressful events with relaxation techniques such as yoga, mindfulness, or deep breathing, you’re setting yourself up to significantly reduce feelings of burnout.
- Simplify
This may be the most difficult to implement. For many suffering from symptoms of burnout, their lives are often very busy and very hectic.
By prioritizing the most important things, you’re able to take the pressure off of what do to and when to do it. By simplifying your daily schedule, you will greatly improve the symptoms of burnout.
Remember, just like anything else, changing your habits to reduce feelings of burnout is going to take time and effort. You may try one thing and realize it doesn’t work for you.
That’s ok!
So, continue to adjust your schedule, habits, and choices to promote optimal health and performance.
Have questions? Please reach out to us at www.tigerpi.com!