Most of us can relate to at least one experience in our lives where we got really sick of working for an organization. You know the spiel. You started out being hired to work for an organization whose mission you admired, management you respected and coworkers you adored. But within a time frame of a few years an economic downturn, political change, or multiple staff changes resulted in an organization that was a mere shell of its former self. I myself, as a medical care professional worked for an organization that was eventually driven out of business after multiple changes in management and mission. I watched helplessly as the organization morphed from an admirable institution with a humanitarian focus to a pathetic human assembly line where the new mission was in essence “the cheaper the better”. Before I left, signs were all around, that morale, was at rock bottom. Formerly cohesive, well-adjusted, and efficient coworkers were at each others throats practically everyday. Things were not getting done in a timely manner. When one project was completed, coworkers and management argued among themselves, how it should have been done sooner, better, faster or cheaper. We were all unappreciated! Mass quittings resulted in work responsibilities being shifted to remaining employees without a subsequent increase in compensation. This meant, the remaining employees were forced to work even longer hours, with less down time to rejuvenate or spend with supportive friends or family. As a mental health professional, I was aware of symptoms indicating stress and burnout. I was annoyed and irritable-snapping at well meaning family and friends. I was withdrawing socially and turning down invitations for activities. When I accepted a rare invitation to go out, my pager was constantly beeping with some administrative request from management. I was always on call. I had stopped taking care of myself. I was gaining weight and having stress- related medical problems. Finally, when one of my patients mistook my expanding belly as a pregnancy, I realized it was time to evaluate my work situation and my lack of self-care.
I started scheduling time off from work, one day every other week, to see my doctor, spend time with my family, and take part in healthy physical activity. I started eating better because I was at home more often and able to prepare simple and nutritious meals. I was able to listen better to friends and family who were finally able to convince me to leave that job and go into something more fulfilling.
Job burnout is when constant strain on the mind and body produces emotional and physical fatigue. Burnout is an emotional, mental, and physical response to constant levels of stress. Some professions are more likely to experience burnout. These include professions where the focus is on serving the emotional and physical needs of others. So it’s probably no surprise that professions such as teaching, health care and customer service are more likely to experience burnout.
How can you tell if you may be experiencing burnout? Rate yourself on the scale below. For each of the fifteen questions, choose a number from 0- 5 that shows how you have felt during the last 3 months:
(Adapted from the Freudenberger Burnout Scale – This test is not meant to replace a clinical assessment but to help you judge how you are doing. If your score is high you may need to seek help.)
- Do you get tired easy? Do you feel worn out?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Do you get upset when people tell you, “You don’t look so good lately”?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you working harder and harder and feel like you’re getting nothing done?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you more sarcastic and disappointed in the world around you?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you sad a lot and don’t know why?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you more forgetful (missing doctor visits, losing things)?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you grumpy? More short-tempered? Do you expect more and more from the people around you?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you spending less time with your friends and family?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you too busy to do everyday things (make phone calls, send out cards)?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Do you always feel bad or are you sick all the time?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Do you feel confused at the end of the day?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Do you have trouble feeling happy?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Are you unable to laugh at a joke about yourself?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Does sex seem like more trouble than it’s worth?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change - Do you have very little to say to people?
No Change 0 1 2 3 4 5 Much Change