Professional burnout is not necessarily about a job you hate, but rather not about it at all. For example, my friend has the rare opportunity to do what she loves without thinking if it will feed her. The second takes the ideal (her own words) position: travel, interesting people, shooting. But both complain: everything seems to be fine, but there is no taste for life. Desire to hide away in a corner where no one will find, and sit in silence.
These apathy, melancholy, rapid fatigue, a feeling of uselessness, unwillingness to do anything, even what seemed to be enjoyable - all this may be not just fatigue, but signs of professional burnout. During such periods, a person is physically and emotionally exhausted. He loses his former working capacity, quarrels with colleagues and family, gets annoyed by customer comments, becomes indifferent to what is happening. How to help oneself in such a situation, BeautyHack asked Alexey Ikorsky, a specialist at the Moscow Psychological Aid Service.
Point of no return
Burnout doesn't come on suddenly. Work conflicts, sudden overloads, urgent tasks, burning deadlines are all stressful. The tension grows day by day, the person endures, continues to give all his best. But at some point it reaches its maximum, then emotional burnout occurs.
Unfulfilled desires destroy
Burnout occurs when a person ignores their desires at work. He turns a blind eye to low wages, lack of security, comfort, stability, self-realization. And if this, it would seem, is all there is, perhaps too large a list of tasks, of which there are more than a real opportunity to master. Even a favorite activity causes fatigue if you spend all the time and nights on it.
Also, this condition can occur if a person sacrifices some needs to others.
“For example, the main goal of an employee is a stable income for the family budget. This goal subjugates all "insignificant" desires and dreams. But the peculiarity is that they do not disappear - we just try not to notice them. Over time, blocked needs deprive them of interest and engagement, leading to burnout,”the psychologist notes.
To avoid professional burnout, never ignore your desires and dreams.
Cause for concern
It is possible to determine that you or your loved one is burned out by a number of signs. A person in this state constantly feels tired, gets tired quickly, and does not sleep well. Shortness of breath, sweating, increased blood pressure, diseases of the cardiovascular system are possible. The mood is often bad, inadequate reactions. The person may behave impulsively, try to relieve tension through cigarettes and alcohol.
“During such periods, a person does not seek to learn something new, he is sad, the work is done only formally. I don't want to have an active rest either, conflicts increase. A professional crisis is coming. Sometimes you even have to change jobs to get out of it,”says the psychologist.
How not to burn out at work - advice from a psychologist:
- Set specific goals in your work.
- Find time to relax: for example, no matter how long the list of tasks, you complete them strictly until 19.00 or 20.00.
- Distribute the load evenly - planning will help with this.
- Prepare yourself in advance for stressful situations at work. Think over a plan of action in a given situation.
- Rejoice and be proud of your achievements, praise yourself.
- Learn to switch from one activity to another.
- Try to avoid unnecessary competition.
- Chat more with family and friends.
- Go in for sports, lead an active lifestyle.
Coping with emotional burnout alone is most often impossible, especially if this process takes a long time. Sometimes the help of a psychologist is simply necessary. By the way, if it is not possible to go to a paid specialist, you can seek individual advice from psychologists of the Moscow Psychological Aid Service (8 (499) 173-09-09).
