Laura Lloyd headshot Written by: Laura Lloyd

Who is Taking Care of You? Avoid Burnout

If you’re feeling exhausted and depleted, or find yourself feeling negative towards your job/company/career, you’re likely facing burnout. 

75% of workers have experienced burnout at some point in their career.

And a recent report found that employee burnout is on the rise since COVID began. 52% of workers are feeling burned out today. That’s over half of workers experiencing exhaustion and defeat. In these times, how much change can we endure?

Woman looking stressed trying to avoid burnout with her hands on her head looking at her laptop

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines employee burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Mayo Clinic defines it as “a special type of work-related stress.”

Employee burnout is a problem and a threat to leaders and their organizations. But there are ways to avoid it.

What you can do to avoid burnout

Avoiding burnout starts with taking care of yourself regularly. This means:

  • Exercise
  • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
  • Get enough sleep
  • Drink water

Outside of regular, daily activities to take care of your body and yourself, take breaks. Take your vacation and paid time off. This is crucial. And don’t work throughout it! 

You also need to take care of yourself mentally as well. This means setting boundaries and finding a good work/life balance. This isn’t going to look the same for everyone. Find what works best for you and stick with it. Make sure you have a network of people you can talk to – friends and family you can connect with. 

When it comes to working, it’s about learning to say no and delegate. Know the signs of burnout and when it’s too much for you.

As leaders, we should be concerned about employee burnout and do what it takes to avoid it. Burnout has an impact on productivity and retention. The numbers above should scare us all. Most employees are stressed, exhausted, and ready to leave. They’re going to find a place that respects their boundaries and mental health. Or at least they think they are.

Don’t lose your people to burnout. Share these tips with them and care for yourself and your team. That is a Leader Worth Following.

For more stats on the potential of employee burnout, click here.