What is work burnout: 5 ways work burnout negatively impacts your mental health

Have you been feeling extremely unmotivated when it comes to getting tasks done? Do you dread clocking into work in the mornings? 

Whether any of this applies to you, then you might be experiencing work burnout! Work burnout usually happens after people overwork themselves and have little time to relax. And with the pandemic, work from home burnout has become a lot more common.

Unfortunately, this can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. Let alone, affect your performance at work. 

But don’t fret! The rest of this article will cover the signs of work burnout, and how to overcome it.

5 Signs of work-related burnout 

1. You’re exhausted

One of the first signs of work-related burnout is feeling physically, emotionally, or mentally drained. No matter how many cups of coffee you drink, feeling tired all the time may be a more serious sign that you’re burned out.

2. You lack motivation

Having little or no enthusiasm towards your work can be another sign of burnout. Especially if you usually enjoy your job! Or if it’s a relatively simple task. 

3. You have trouble concentrating 

When your mind is all over the place, that may be because you’re feeling a bit spread thin. When you have trouble focusing on the task at hand, this is usually an indication for a break.

4. You take longer to get things done

What would normally take you an hour to complete takes you twice, or maybe triple, the amount of time. When this happens, this means you may lack the drive to get things off of your list. Work performance is usually impacted by work burnout.

5. You’re feeling disillusioned 

Feeling like you’re stuck in a rut or hopeless with life is never a good sign. This tends to happen after people overwork themselves and leave little time to relax. 

Overcoming burnout at work

Exhaustion, lack of motivation, trouble concentrating, slower work performance, and feelings of disillusionment are just some of the symptoms of work burnout. 

Luckily, we’ve come up with a bunch of things you can do to overcome burnout at work! 

• Exercise: Blowing off some steam after a long day may help release any burdens you might be carrying. Equally, a workout in the morning starts the day off on a good note!
• Sleep: Sometimes, it might just be that our brain needs a break from working hard. Getting more sleep is therefore an effective solution. Plus, it’s easier to get stuff done when you have the energy!
• Meditate: How often do we get the chance to simply exist? Or forget our responsibilities for half an hour? Carve out fifteen minutes to yourself to take some deep breaths. Allow whatever thoughts to travel in and out. 
• Vent to a loved one or journal: Getting things off of your chest can feel like a relief. Which is why you may consider speaking to a friend, family member, or trusted colleague. Alternatively, you could journal a few things down at the end of the day.
• Talk to a licensed professional: Some people may find that the issue requires more care. Or that there’s more to the issue besides work burnout. Therapy can be a worthwhile treatment in overcoming burnout at work. 

Work burnout is something that many people encounter at some point in their careers. And without a doubt, many people have been experiening burnout as a result of the pandemic. 

However, work burnout can be temporary. You may find that introducing new solutions into your routine can help. Also, talking to an expert about what you’re going through can be effective. 

SupportRoom

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Our platform offers patients confidential, professional mental health support for individuals and businesses. We connect you with licensed professionals, who can provide round-the-clock support via multiple formats – such as unlimited messaging or video calls.

We also have an EAP solution that provides detailed analytics to help organisations improve mental health within their workplace, and understand why their employees may suffer from mental health issues.