You might think that quitting your job because you’re burned out will improve the situation, but in the long run, it won’t help you. Quitting your job due to burnout will almost certainly make you feel worse, and you may be hurting your career prospects in the process. While there are some things you can do to battle burnout without quietly quitting, first consider why it happened in the first place and what steps you can take to prevent burnout from happening again in the future.

What is burnout?

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that can happen as a result of chronic stress. When you are burned out, there is no longer any incentive or interest in your work. It’s important to recognize the signs of burnout so that you can take steps to prevent it from happening.

The difference between good and bad stress

Good stress is when you’re overwhelmed with a project and can’t wait to get started. Bad stress is when you’re feeling like everything is taking too long, you’re not being challenged, or that the work isn’t worthwhile. It’s important for employees to be aware of burnout so they know what it feels like before they quit their jobs in silence.

Identifying the signs of burnout

Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It can take on many different forms, such as: extreme fatigue, chronic stress or anxiety, depression or hopelessness. It’s important for you to know the signs of burnout so you can take steps in order to prevent yourself from suffering from this condition. Some signs of burnout are feeling apathetic about your work, not liking what you do anymore and not having any energy when it comes to your responsibilities.

Steps to take if you’re burned out

Steps to take if you are burned out:

• Get a hobby. Studies have shown that people who engage in passion projects have an outlet to destress. 
• Take a day off. Sometimes all you need is a day to reset your mood and perspective. 
• Go on vacation. When a day off is not enough, it can also be beneficial to just get away for a bit. 
• Learn new skills. While learning may be associated with stress, studies have shown that the opposite is true and also helps build better coping mechanisms because it’s a different kind of stress. 
• Delegate tasks. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it, and giving someone else the chance to take over from time to time will help lighten your load.
• Set boundaries. Make sure that all of your commitments have a specific time frame, so that you know when something is finished, and can prioritise what’s important now and in the future. Saying no more often may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’ll help protect your well-being in the long run.

When to see a doctor about burnout

If you find yourself emotionally and physically exhausted at work, it might be burnout. It is important to check in with your employer or supervisor if you think that you are experiencing signs of burnout before they progress into something more serious. They may have access to software for employee monitoring to see whether your productivity has been affected, the hours you have been putting in, and therefore can let you know it’s time to take a break. The software will also be able to provide details about how much time you spend on different tasks as well as help identify any patterns that could lead to burning out.

Final Words

Taking care of one’s employees is imperative to the betterment of one’s company, because a happy workforce is a productive workforce. Sure, pushing your employees might deliver results, but sustainable results are much more meaningful than short term and fast results. Protect your employees from burnout so you are able to protect your company from falling into a slump.