The Warning Signs of Burnout and How to Avoid Them

What is workplace burnout?

Workplace burnout is typically a feeling of complete and utter exhaustion when it comes to working or contributing to one's current position.

While it's not uncommon to have a bad day here and there, feeling uninspired, depressed, or simply unable to complete tasks for an extended period of time is a tell-tale sign of workplace burnout.

What causes employee burnout

Employee burnout can occur at any time, even if an employee appears to be excited about their work externally. From internal workplace issues to personal problems, employee burnout can stem from a variety of real-life anxieties and stressors, such as:

• Pressure: Feeling increased pressure in the workplace or even socially and at home can cause employees to feel less motivated and more burnt out.
• Work overload: An increase in responsibility at work can also lead to employee burnout, especially if they are not properly prepared to take on and manage new tasks in their current role.
• Lack of support: If an employee is experiencing a lack of support from his or her team, boss, or even those at home, they are more likely to feel a strain on their mental health.
• Poor work-life balance: Poor time management or the inability to balance one's work and personal life can significantly decrease overall happiness while increasing stress.
• External stress: Life can be stressful at times. Preventing burnout in the workplace means also knowing how to recognize potential external stressors and triggers that bring on stress. Stress involving hobbies, relationships, plans, or even bills can cause workplace burnout in even the most dedicated and ambitious employees.
• Unfair treatment: Feeling treated unfairly in the workplace can cause employees to disconnect from their workload, preventing them from committing themselves fully to the job. Disagreements or mistreatment from coworkers and team members should always be taken seriously and addressed immediately.

Warning signs of workplace burnout

Identifying warning signs of workplace burnout is essential to minimize the risk of experiencing burnout yourself as an employer or an employee. Knowing how to spot potential signs of burnout can help you to address them as quickly as possible, potentially preventing workplace burnout altogether.

Low productivity

A noticeable drop in employee engagement and productivity might be a sign that they are experiencing burnout. If an employee typically meets all of their goals but their production has slowed consistently over time, they may be struggling to manage stress and burnout on their own.

Physical and emotional exhaustion

Noticing both physical and emotional exhaustion in an employee is another indicator that they are feeling burnt out. When someone overworks themselves or is unable to rest their mind and body for an extended period of time, they are much more likely to experience serious emotional and physical exhaustion.

Negative feelings

If your employee has been increasingly expressing discontent or negative feelings about their position or your company, they may be in need of additional manager support.

When an employee, who is typically optimistic, motivated, and supportive, begins expressing negative emotions in the workplace, they may be reaching out for camaraderie and emotional guidance. Speak privately to an employee who expresses negative feelings in the workplace to avoid embarrassing or humiliating them in front of their peers.

Easily upset

Chronic workplace stress can also lead to individuals feeling easily triggered or upset by even mundane conversations or actions. The more stressed out someone becomes, the more likely they are to become overwhelmed with minor stressors that could have otherwise been prevented.

Decreased enjoyment

A loss of enjoyment in one's work can also be a symptom of workplace burnout. This is especially true in those who otherwise find joy and satisfaction in their roles. Employee burnout can cause individuals to feel depressed, which can lead to an overall loss of any fulfillment they typically feel while working.

Physical symptoms

In some instances, workplace burnout can also lead to physical symptoms. A few ways in which workplace burnout can impact one's physical health include:

• Headaches: Increased headaches or migraines are not uncommon in those stressed out from work.
• Back pain: Back pain and increased joint pain may also occur in individuals who are feeling stressed.
• Anxiety: An increase in anxiety and/or panic attacks is not uncommon in those who are burnt out in the workplace.
• Nausea/digestive issues: Those who experience anxiety and mental fatigue from work-related stress are also more likely to experience nausea and/or other digestive issues.
• Chronic fatigue: It is not uncommon for employees who are overworked to begin showing signs of chronic fatigue, especially if they are unable to rest during their time off.

How to prevent burnout in the workplace

Preventing workplace burnout is not as simple as planning an outing or providing your employees with a day off. In order to successfully mitigate burnout in the workplace, both environmental and cultural shifts must take place.

There are a few ways to overcome burnout in the workplace. They include:

Promote a positive work environment

Both team and manager support goes a long way for employees in the workplace, especially those who are at risk of experiencing burnout. A positive environment is much more welcoming and supportive than an environment that is cold, judgmental, and uncaring. Encourage a positive work environment between team members, regardless of their position and rank.

Be sure to stress the importance of being kind in the workplace among all team members. Host regular meetings to promote positivity in the workplace. Address negativity and gossip in private to prevent matters from spreading throughout the workplace. Highlight positive actions and interactions rather than focusing on the negative.

Encourage open communication

Open communication is key to long-term success in any market or industry, regardless of the size of your business. Openly encourage team collaboration and communication among all teams, managers, and team leaders.

Offer positive incentives for those who are the most willing to help their fellow peers and co-workers. Share praise in the workplace when employees take it upon themselves to help each other without prompts or requests. Open communication can go a long way in ensuring your employees remain satisfied in their positions without feeling burnt out and overwhelmed.

Provide opportunities for professional growth

Providing opportunities to your employees for professional growth can help them from feeling stagnant or stuck in their positions. Implementing tools such as a sales CRM can also help your employees when it comes to streamlining their daily tasks and overall workflow.

Using tools such as a sales CRM or another workflow solution can also decrease the amount of stress employees encounter on a daily basis.

Improve work-life balance

One of the best ways to prevent employee burnout in the workplace is to help employees improve their own work-life balance. Allowing employees more time off, paid time off, as well as flexible schedules is one way to provide a more balanced work-life schedule. For some employees, allowing them to work remotely may help them through a period of burnout, especially if they are struggling to overcome external stressors in their personal life.

Teaching employees how to prioritize their tasks at work and still find fulfillment outside of their careers is essential as a manager or leader. Assisting your employees with the right tools and guidance can significantly increase their quality of life and their work-life balance over time.

Encourage employees to prioritize self-care

As a manager, leader, or entrepreneur, encouraging employees to prioritize self-care is also extremely important. Learning how to excel at time and energy management can help your employees to feel much more assertive and in control of their own lives.

Teach employees about the importance of self-care and seeking fulfillment outside of work to help reduce burnout while allowing them to focus on their own well being. Encourage employees to practice self-care whenever they are at home or have time off in addition to providing free time during their workdays.

Offering a small window of time for employees to relax, unwind, work on personal projects, or practice self-care can be just what they need after a busy morning or afternoon. Remain flexible when it comes to communicating about self-care with your employees to ensure a workplace culture that works for all.

Prioritize employee well-being for a healthy work environment

In the workplace, prioritizing well-being and mental health can prevent employee burnout, even in highly competitive and fast-paced environments.

With the use of various tools available with Mailchimp, you can learn how to manage stress in the workplace by streamlining the workflow of all of your employees.

With Mailchimp, you can ensure that your employees are well-equipped with the proper tools to achieve workplace goals while simultaneously maintaining a healthy work-life balance.