Many have experienced Monday morning blues. But, have you ever experienced a case of the “Sundays”? It is that feeling of dread that creeps in on Sunday afternoons and threatens to sabotage the remainder of the weekend. If so, you are at risk for burnout. Keep reading to learn the warning signs of burnout.
Everyone has a bad day here or there, maybe even a bad week. When there are more bad days at work than good, it is time to take a hard look at the situation. If work comes to feel onerous or uninspiring, it could be due to impending burnout.
Burnout is a cumulative effect and can creep up on you if you are not cognizant of the warning signs. Burnout usually occurs when we underestimate stress or work too long without adequate time off. When one begins to work overtime, they tend to neglect their outlets for relieving stress, including spending time with family and friends, hobbies, reading for pleasure, or exercise.
When a person experiences burnout, all of their relationships suffer. Friendships begin to drift apart. Family relations are strained. Rapport with colleagues will deteriorate. As relationships breakdown, the person experiencing burnout begins to feel even more stress.
The best way to prevent burnout is to recognize the most common signs. While everyone is different, and may experience different triggers, knowing the common and personal signs of burnout is important.
The most common signs of burnout include:
- A feeling of dread during the workweek and on Sunday night.
- Performing work on autopilot.
- Physical and mental exhaustion.
- Frequent colds or illnesses.
- Feeling annoyed by everything and everyone.
Burnout can be attributed to half of all employee turnover, making it very costly for organizations within all industries. The top contributors to burnout include unfair compensation, increasing workloads, and too much overtime. Other contributors include poor management, lack of connection to the role, and company culture.
Recognizing the signs of burnout in yourself and in your teams can help increase satisfaction and retention. Creating a culture that supports staff and allows for open communication can help relieve stress and the potential for burnout.
David Klein is a leading Executive IT Recruiter & Headhunter with over 15 years of industry experience. As Manager of Recruitment Strategy for KDS Staffing, Inc., he has achieved industry-leading success. David has successfully led, trained and introduced many in the art of Executive Recruitment and Headhunting. If you or your organization would like to discuss hiring needs, contact David at 646-650-2833 or david@kdsstaffing.com.
