Six Reasons You Hate Showing up to Work
The hidden culprits of work exhaustion (and what to do about them)
Excessive Demands
You’re barraged with new projects, each one more urgent than the last. Work that was once manageable becomes more and more difficult. That’s because you’re working at a pace that doesn’t take endurance into consideration.
An increase in job responsibilities — without a pay increase — is a common issue in traditional workplaces.
If you’re struggling to keep up, it’s time to cut down your workload. Even if you’re juggling everything right now, it will wear you down over time.
What you can do:
Don’t be afraid to speak up to your employer. A good supervisor not only wants the best from you but also cares about your well-being. Longevity in your career is more important than unsustainable productivity.
When you can’t avoid a packed to-do list, focus on rest. Taking time to yourself is key to minimizing mental exhaustion.
Recognition Imbalance
Selflessness and humility are are often taken for granted in the workplace.
When you work hard without recognition, you increase your risk of burnout. Feeling underappreciated for long periods can lead to apathy.
There is a time for giving freely and expecting nothing in return. But in the workplace, you need to reward yourself for your hard work and commitment.
What you can do:
Acknowledge that the work you do is valuable. You sacrifice your time and energy daily to support yourself and your community.
Don’t wait for the end of a project or season to celebrate. Your tiny daily successes are as important. Treat yourself to a 3-day weekend to appreciate how far you’ve come.
Pressure to Achieve
Perfectionists are predisposed to burnout. We fall into a vicious cycle of working too hard and falling short of our goals.
Associating your worth with the quality of your work will tank your self-esteem. It’s natural to want to learn from your mistakes. But an overly critical mindset leaves you emotionally exhausted.
What you can do:
Be mindful of your inner voice. Are you treating yourself with the same kindness as a friend? Practicing patience and forgiveness are important for a healthy workplace mindset.
If someone else is putting unreasonable pressure on you, it’s time to have a conversation. The people we spend time with, both at work and home, shape our self-image.
Lack of Social Support
Do you feel isolated? There could be a lack of solidarity and community in either your workplace or home.
Loneliness is a major contributor to burnout. The absence of close, supportive relationships means shouldering your stress alone. The more stressed you are, the more likely you are to self-isolate.
What you can do:
Break the cycle by prioritizing your social life. Go out of your way to make connections and stay in touch with old friends. Be honest with them about your struggles at work, and ask for their help.
If the people you spend time with take advantage of your relationship, it’s time to put some boundaries in place. Protect your mental well-being by keeping your relationships healthy.
Role Conflict
When work bleeds into free time, it causes role conflict. Role conflict is present when you’re forced to choose between work and life responsibilities on a regular basis.
It’s easy to put off self-care when there’s so much to do. But the longer you go without tending to your other responsibilities, the harder it is to keep going.
A lack of defined boundaries between work, relationships, hobbies, and health leads to resentment.
What you can do:
Take a moment to evaluate what’s most important to you. Rank all your responsibilities from highest to lowest priority. Then, organize them by how much time you spend on each.
Do your rankings match up? If not, distribute your time in a more meaningful way. Creating time and space for healing is a key aspect of burnout recovery and prevention.
Misaligned Values
Do you feel connected to a deeper purpose at work?
Without a sense of direction, hopelessness starts to creep in. You might begin to feel like burnout isn’t preventable. This stems from a lack of meaning in the work you do every day.
It’s discouraging to find out that your workplace’s values don’t align with your own. This contributes to social isolation and role conflict. It causes deep emotional and spiritual stress.
What you can do:
Ask yourself the big questions — what is your purpose? What are your values, and what do you want from life? Even if you are working solely for income, set long-term financial goals based on your priorities and passions.
The road to self-discovery is long and sometimes confusing. Focus on what you can do today, tomorrow, and every day to begin building a life based on what you believe in.
