Kate Crowhurst
Money Bite-Size Read:
- Burnout is caused by chronic workplace stress.
- It’s on the rise, with 77% of Australians experiencing burnout in 2020.
- Here’s 5 ways to recover from burnout at work so that you can protect your ability to earn money long-term.
The MoneyBites Take:
If you are experiencing burnout, look for ways to recover so that you protect your number one earning asset in life: you.
Burnout is a work phenomenon.
It’s what happens when in trying to earn money, we tire ourselves out. The World Health Organisation classifies it as a chronic workplace stress syndrome that isn’t adequately managed.
Australians know burnout well as we have one of the highest rates of burnout, with 77% of us reporting burnout in 2020. Part of this was finding ourselves working from home and having to manage a new working environment.
So what happens if you find yourself out of battery and in need of recharging?
Like your phone, you need to plug yourself in, or you’re not capable of producing the same output. So if you’ve spotted signs of burnout at work and can see it affecting you, it’s essential to take steps towards recovery.
Here’s 5 ways to recover from burnout at work:
1. Identify the cause of your burnout
No holiday can cure your burnout if its cause isn’t identified. First, look at whether it’s an issue of work hours, tasks you undertake or passion for the work itself. Then, discuss the situation with your manager and how you can reshape the role while still achieving core outcomes.
2. Focus on taking one step now
Many of us look at burnout at work as a by-product of earning money. However, you can start feeling better by taking one step now to influence your environment and begin to make a sustained recovery from burnout. This first step could be improving your sleep habits or making time for exercise you enjoy.
3. Set boundaries around your work
It’s crucial to set limits on how people access your time. That includes paid and unpaid work you do, if you volunteer your time in addition to your main paid role. Likewise, you need to set boundaries with other people and how they can access you. That includes saying no if what they ask for is not reasonable or if you don’t have time available.
4. Make time for what you love
One of the biggest signs of burnout is feeling negative about your work, which spills into other aspects of your life. That’s why it’s important to find that passion again and make time for the activities you enjoy. This could be reshaping work tasks or making time for those you love, such as going for walks with friends.
5. Prioritise your mental health
When we talk about mental health, we need to recognise that it’s multi-faceted. Your mental health is impacted by your mind, physical health, social connections, emotional health, and spiritual connectedness. Given the link between mental health and money, it’s crucial to budget for self-care so that you can draw on these resources when you need them.
Many of us recharge our phones more often than we recharge ourselves.
If that resonates for you, it’s time to put yourself first. That includes looking for ways to recover from burnout at work when you spot the signs of exhaustion. Remember that you need to budget for this recovery and self-care because it protects your number one asset in life: you.
