We Need to Talk About Workplace Burnout
The modern workplace is characterized by tight deadlines, demanding projects, and a hectic schedule. Being overloaded at work has not only become the status quo of working society, but it’s been celebrated as an affirmation of success.
As the job force becomes increasingly competitive, we are forced to sacrifice more and more of our personal wellbeing in order to compete. The extremes we go through in our personal lives have become the quantifier of our dedication to work. This is fostering a toxic work culture that is sure to implode on ourselves.
Look at the infamous Fiverr ads in which sleep deprivation and ‘drinking coffee for lunch’ is encouraged, sparking this article by the New Yorker in response. Being overworked to the point of being pushed to the fringes of one’s mental wellbeing has become the norm of the modern working person.
The ‘hustle’ has become the defining spirit of the modern entrepreneur. We wear the bags under our eyes as a sign of success. We are burning out. We are chronically exhausted, stressed, and anxious. Our physical and mental health is slowly degrading.
In 2017, researchers found burnout to be connected to several health issues among stressed workers, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and depression. We are, quite literally, working ourselves to death.
And yet, the demands of the workforce are unrelenting. Companies like Fiverr continue to thrive off of overworking freelancers for meager pay. Society glorifies a culture of living within the extremes as the harbinger of success: working ridiculously long hours, eating scraps, and taking no personal time to rest.
Hard work does require sacrifice to be sure, but working beyond the limits of one’s capacities will only result in more damage than good. The true measure of success is the ability to sustainably work hard while living well.
While topical remedies can help, burnout is not something a handy how-to guide can truly fix. Meditation and adopting a healthier lifestyle can make things better, but it doesn’t address the systemic issue.
Who’s to blame? Should we point fingers at specific workplaces or industries? Or at the society that celebrates working ourselves to death?
Neither. According to this article by the Guardian, blaming doesn’t help the issue. What will?
Being open about burnout and how it manifests in our lives.
As society grows more open to talking about mental health, the topic of workplace burnout needs to be addressed as well — particularly within the workplace itself. When we establish a foundation of open communication surrounding burnout, we can fight its stigma and consequences.
Burnout damages more than just the individual. It can fester within entire workplaces, degrading performance and culture. In the long term, burnout can be a poison to a business. Employers must give the chance for employees to speak openly about their mental health, without repercussion.
We all have one life. Our mental health dictates how well we live it just as much as our physical health. This is why it’s vital we address burnout not just on an individual basis, but as a systemic issue that affects us as a collective.
What are the symptoms of burnout? The Guardian lists the top five signs of burnout:
- Exhaustion, little sleep, and symptoms similar to having the flu
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritation and cynicism
- Overwhelm in crowded spaces and sensitivity to light
- Detachment from what you used to enjoy
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