We all deal with job stress at one point or another in our careers. But when left unchecked, job stress can lead to burnout—a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can negatively impact our work performance and overall well-being.
Workplace burnout is a unique form of job-related stress- a state of physical or emotional tiredness that also includes a sense of diminished accomplishment and a loss of one’s sense of self.
The good news is that there are ways to prevent and manage job stress before it gets the best of us.
Regardless of the source, experiencing job burnout can impact your physical and mental well-being. Think about how to recognize job burnout and what you can do to prevent it.
What is Job Stress?
Job stress is the physical and mental strain when work demands exceed one’s ability or resources to meet them.
It can result from having too much work and not enough time, an imbalanced workload, lack of control over work assignments, little autonomy in decision-making, and a perceived common sense of job security.
What is Burnout?
Burnout has been classified as a medical diagnosis by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been dealt with effectively.
Researchers point out that individual factors, such as personality traits and family life, influence who experiences job burnout.
It’s an emotional, mental, and physical reaction to constant stress. When work demands constantly pile up, it takes a toll on you.
You might start to feel unappreciated and overworked. Burnout is a thief of energy and productivity and can spread into your personal life.
You might come home feeling completely drained and dread the next day. You feel you have nothing more to give, or you stop caring. I
Job Stress And Burnout Symptoms
Here’s how to recognize the physical symptoms of work-related stress:
1. Loss of enthusiasm for work
2. Decreased job performance
3. Negative attitude about work
4. Overwhelming fatigue
5. Increased frequency of illnesses
6. Feeling detached or disconnected from work
7. Difficulty concentrating
8. Heightened feelings of frustration and irritability
9. Anxiety and depression
10. Other mental health issues
3 Types Of Burnout
The three subtypes of work burnout
1. Overload Burnout
Most people imagine burnout when they think of overload. To keep working at an unsustainable pace to achieve success, financial stability, or recognition.
2. Under-Challenged Burnout
Both a heavy workload and a lack of challenging work can cause burnout. People need to feel involved and stimulated to be happy in their employment. Without a passion for what they do, people become disengaged.