Identifying Burnout: Key Indicators and Effective Solutions

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As another year draws closer to its end, you may be feeling like it’s been a bit of a slog.

If so, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that nearly three million Australians are likely to consider leaving their job in the next year, and one of the big drivers is burnout.

Burnout is a feeling of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive demands at work or in your personal life, according to mental health support organisation Beyond Blue.

It can affect anyone and can lead to more negative outcomes for your health and well-being.

Curious about recognizing burnout and the steps employees and companies can take to prevent it?

“In sectors such as retail, healthcare, and education, burnout is becoming increasingly significant. In fact, the situation is worsening,” he shared with SBS News.

Associate Professor Ross Iles is the chief research officer at Superfriend, an Australian not-for-profit that provides organisations with mental health training and support.

He says that over the past decade, burnout has remained stubbornly high.

TUNE IN TO

While awareness of mental health issues has increased in many workplaces, that hasn’t translated to a significant decrease in burnout, Iles said.

While such developments were positive, things “aren’t quite shifting fast enough to keep up with the levels of burnout”, he said.

How can you tell if you’re experiencing burnout?

Burnout can present itself in different ways, but there are a few common signs that experts say shouldn’t be ignored.

Mental and emotional signs to watch out for include feelings of isolation and irritation, as well as feeling less satisfied with work or disengaging from work that you once valued.

There can also be physical signs, with burnout sometimes leading to increased headaches and body pain, as well as disrupted sleep patterns.

A lack of energy can also be an indicator that you might be feeling burned out.

Iles said psychological distress is one of the top factors driving burnout in industries like health care, which, alongside education and retail, has some of the highest reported burnout rates.

“Psychological distress is that generalised stress and anxiety that people experience in all aspects of their life,” he said.

“And so when people are experiencing high levels of psychological distress, particularly for a prolonged period, that’s going to increase their burnout or the likelihood they’re going to report burnout.”

What can be done to reduce workplace burnout?

According to research conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Allianz Australia, around four in five Australian workers felt their workplace failed to enforce healthy habits and boundaries.

Excessive workloads, too many meetings and unrealistic deadlines were among the leading contributors to burnout that were cited.

Mark Pittman, executive general manager of personal injury at Allianz Australia, said the research showed employees were struggling to schedule personal time for themselves.

“We encourage Australians to take a proper break, set boundaries and prioritise recovery activities such as sleep and exercise, and making these small changes can really make a difference in helping to prevent burnout,” Pittman said.

But employers also have a big role to play in helping employees avoid burnout, Pittman said, with Allianz’s research identifying three solutions desired by employees:

Better training for managers to support employee wellbeing
Fewer unnecessary tasks and meetings that add to employees’ workload without adding value
Recurring mental health days off work

Iles said leaders in the workplace have a responsibility to create healthy environments.

“While we’ve been making progress, we still find that less than half of Australian workers feel comfortable talking to their manager about mental health, and we find that figure hasn’t shifted too much,” Iles said.

“So it’s really important to break down that stigma, and that will help prevent burnout.”

Iles said that perhaps the most important thing employers can do, though, is to deliberately think about connectedness and how good relationships and a good working environment can be fostered.

“Not to just think of it happening by chance, but to actually deliberately foster opportunities for employees to connect with each other.”

Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.