Frequently Asked Questions about Burnout
What is burnout?
Burnout is state of being characterized by a lack of energy, productivity, and interest in what we are doing. It is closely tied to our careers and work environment. It may also be characterized by depersonalization (isolating yourself from others/treating others like objects rather than people)
Who might get burnout?
Anyone can be subject to burnout - white collar, blue collar, high paying, or entry level employees are all at risk of it. Interestingly, burnout is most prevalent in careers that involve care-taking, such as those who work in medical fields or psychology. (In one study it’s estimated that somewhere between 40-60% of physicians are in burnout in the U.S.)
What causes burnout?
Burnout sets in when we lack three critical values in our lives: MISSION, ENERGY, and ATTENTION. Think of each of these three values like a fuel tank. When the fuel in that tank is depleted, we won’t be able to function with as much power… we’rerunning of fumes.
Is burnout caused from working too much?
Yes and no. Working too much is a condition called workaholism and is characterized from an over abundance of time spent on a project, job, or task. Generally, this occurs when we work 50 hours or more each week. While this is a different issue than burnout, a pattern of this behavior can certainly lead to burnout. Both burnout and workaholism are addressed in The Cure for Burnout courses.
What happens when we are burnt out?
Among a long list of issues, we start to lose interest, productivity at work suffers, and long-term goal planning suffers. Work becomes less profitable. We increase the number of mistakes and accidents at work. We also suffer from an increased risk in heart disease, poor relationship satisfaction at home, and an increase use of substances like caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and potential drug use.
Does taking time off from work or going on vacation help with burnout?
The short answer is… it might. Vacations or time help rejuvenate our ENERGY (one of the 3 values that beat burnout). However, it only rejuvenates that value IF we engage in time off that is designed to refuel us. All too often, we find ourselves running errands on our days off or find traveling for vacation stressful. When this is the case, we return to work more burnt out than when we left.Does burnout cause depression?
Depression is a complex, often chronic medical condition that may be caused by a number of things. If you find that your lack of interest, passion, and mission extends to other aspects of your personal life such as your loved ones, hobbies, and social life, consult a medical doctor and/or counselor.
Is burnout contagious?
No… and yes. Leaders who are experiencing burnout do little to inspire their teams. When this happens, team members begin to disengage, burnout as well, or leave the organization altogether.
Can I cure my burnout?
Yes! The great news is when we take the time to practice healthy work behaviors we can kill burnout in our lives. Through The Cure for Burnout course, we address all three values that can kill burnout (MISSION, ENERGY, and ATTENTION) as well as many other habits that can help keep you engaged, productive, and fulfilled in your work! This process takes time, but you should begin to see improvements fairly quickly if you immediately practice the exercises in this course.