How to Beat Job Burnout: Job Burnout and Dealing With Stress

Job burnout seldom happens without warning, but it is often insidious in nature.

For example, you realize that what was supposed to be a normal, pre-retirement job or a post-retirement job is becoming too stressful for you. You are heading into job burnout, recognize the symptoms, but do not 

know what to do about it. You begin asking yourself how to beat job burnout.

Addressing the question of how you can beat job burnout may prove helpful because you realize that there is a problem. .   

What is job burnout?

“Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands.”

The article, “Preventing Burnout: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Coping Strategies” compares stress to burnout.

This article, “The 3Dealing with Burnout: The 'Three R' Approach” includes three words, namely recognize, reverse and resilience. In this instance, recognize means to “watch for the warning signs of burnout”. Reverse is “undoing the damage by managing stress and seeking support”. Resilience means to “build your resilience to stress by taking care of your physical and emotional health.”   

How do you feel when you are in burnout?

“Being burned out means feeling empty, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring,” suggesting that nothing else matters and it may be the point of no return. While you may feel that way, it is not necessarily the case as there are positive, constructive and proactive things you can do to beat job burnout.

Think in a positive direction because you have acknowledged job burnout at the stage where stress management becomes important.

Identify your major source of stress or stress-related factors. Find available resources in terms of obtaining mental, emotional, physical and spiritual help for dealing with your excess stress. Professional medical guidance or employment counseling may be your best answer. Obtaining additional support from co-workers, family and friends can prove beneficial or perhaps it is time to have a serious talk with your employer about your job and the stress related to it.

As you deal with and reduce your level of stress, you will start to see the importance of taking a fresh approach to your health and well being. Consider all aspects of your health as being equally important, particularly if you are in your pre-retirement or retirement years.     

Remember that no two people have exactly the same symptoms of burnout. What is stressful and leading to burnout for one person may be potentially invigorating for another. Ask yourself whether your burnout is the result of stress that is of a good kind or stress that is potentially unhealthy for you. What you learn about yourself can be helpful to others, too.

Learn how to channel the extra adrenalin and resulting energy from your excess stress in a positive, constructive direction and start to enjoy your life again, knowing that you can beat job burnout.