Beating Burnout

Bini Dahal

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has stepped down, giving a surprise to everyone.  While her resignation has been perceived differently by different groups of people, most media has highlighted her words "no longer has enough in the tank" to lead, indicating work burnout. 

Burnout has become a new norm today. Everyone, be it a student or a working professional has faced exhaustion of some kind. Because it is so common, it would not be wrong to say that for many, it comes naturally as a part of their job description.

The term ‘burnout’ simply refers to emotional, physical and mental exhaustion brought about by excessive stress that happens for a long time. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) does not consider burnout as a mental condition rather terms it as an occupational phenomenon. We live in a very competitive world where the job market, in particular, is harsh and one has to showcase his or her potential to survive and thrive within it. The idea of ‘survival of the fittest’ fits here as well. For example, anyone who is unable to show their performance can get replaced easily. Therefore, everyone is hustling. 

People are working for longer hours to the point of exhaustion. They are deliberately missing the opportunity to connect with themselves and others for the sake of work. Unable to draw a line between personal and professional life is particularly true due to the ever-present networking sites like email. The continuous email notifications popping from work stresses us and it demands much of our attention and effort. While these sacrifices are made to attain success, we might not be in a good state physically and mentally. 

Let’s take the example of working late. Working for longer hours in front of our devices can lead one to sleep deprivation and even conditions of insomnia. A normal adult mostly requires seven-nine hours of sleep which he or she is unable to fulfill. A lack of sleep can make us irritated, can change our hormonal cycles and can significantly reduce our ability to think and perform well. So, what is the use of working late when its end result is not as good as it should have been? 

This can significantly reduce the productivity and efficiency of an individual. When in a burnout state, we become more stressed, more anxious and are unable to connect with our work environment. Negativity arises and employees are unable to contribute positively to the growth and success of the company. An organisation’s working culture and environment highly determines the state of an employee. Some organisations demand constant efforts be put in by their employees. 

However, with changing times, organisations are trying to create a flexible environment where employees can take a break, relax and get back to work. Yet, we have a long way to go. The working culture has to be fostered and improved to better address the needs of the employees. Earning a monthly salary should not happen at the expense of an individual’s health and well-being. 

Employees should be encouraged to communicate clearly and should be encouraged to share their perspective on the work. Discussions on the kind of changes an organisation can bring about in its work environment can be beneficial for the workers. Ultimately, this may prove to be valuable for the company itself.