Mental Health: Navigating Job Burnout
WORKING with my Mental Health: Navigating Job Burnout
Today will be the day to prioritize mental health inside the workplace, not later, not tomorrow, this is the day!
Due to numerous obligations, maintaining our families, jobs, and other pursuits, we tend to forget to breathe and relax when life gets tough and overwhelming. Having a job allows us to provide for our needs, as well as for our loved ones, but it also comes with stress and nonstop tiring days that may lead to burnout. It is a condition of emotional, bodily, and mental fatigue brought on by persistently high levels of stress at work. We can take good care of our career while also looking after ourselves. To cut it short, a job is indeed important, and so we are. As we keep working hard, do not forget to have a little break, refuel yourself, condition your body and mind, they are essentials in performing your tasks well.
World Mental Health Day is a worldwide event designed to promote mental health advocacy, education, and awareness while combating social stigma. In order to bring together the crucial connection between work and mental health, this year’s theme is “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace”. As we celebrate and give importance to this day, let us know more about the factors and ways to handle the occupational phenomenon known as “Job Burnout.”
I. FACTORS THAT LEAD TO JOB BURNOUT
(1) Overwhelming Workload – An employee’s stress level rises when they have too much work to perform and not enough time to complete it. Overwhelming demands, long hours, and tight deadlines can make employees feel swamped or overwhelmed, which might eventually result in job burnout.
(2) Lack of Control – A perceived lack of control over work responsibilities, decision-making processes, and daily tasks is particularly de-motivating to workers. This may also lead to feelings of helplessness and extreme fatigue, significantly contributing to job burnout.
(3) Insufficient Reward and Recognition – Lack of recognition and rewards for the efforts and accomplishments of workers can lead them to feel undervalued. Acknowledging each other in work maintains a sense of value to the organizational mission and makes the workers feel good about themselves.
(4) Lack of fairness – When workers are treated unjustly, they are likely to experience job burnout and require more sick time.
(5) Poor Workplace Relationships – Even at work, a sense of belonging is necessary for workers’ mental health and well-being. When employees feel they lack a support network, it can lead to emotional fatigue and an increased risk of job burnout.
II. WAYS TO HANDLE JOB BURNOUT
(1) Look at your options – Discuss your concerns with your supervisor. Perhaps you two can collaborate to fix issues or make modifications. Decide what has to be done and set reasonable targets. If the situation of your work is not improving, you might look for a job that better suits your needs.
(2) Seek support – Ask for support from your co-workers, friends, or loved ones. You may find that talking to others helps you cope, and having a sense of belonging protects you from job burnout.
(3) Try a relaxing activity – Try engaging in activities that help reduce stress such as meditation, walking in nature, listening to calm music, and even simply taking deep breaths a few times a day can help ease stress.
(4) Get some sleep – Having adequate sleep restores and protects your well-being and mental health. It can also enhance your immune system, mood, and emotional resilience.
(5) Practice mindfulness – Being fully present and engaged in the current moment can help you deal with what’s happening on the job, rather than being overly reactive or overwhelmed by the events happening around or within you.
III. Free Mental Health Consultation in the Philippines
- Crisis Hotline- Organizations like HOPELINE, a program of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation and the Philippine Mental Health Association provide free crisis hotlines that are open 24/7 for people who want urgent assistance and counseling.
- National Center for Mental Health (NCMH)- Anyone with mental health issues can receive free mental health consultations and therapy from the NCMH. For those in need of emergency support, they offer emergency services and outpatient clinics.
- Online Resources- Several websites, including the Department of Health’s Mental Health websites and mental health advocacy groups offer free mental health resources, information, and hotlines for assistance.
- Barangay Health Centers- Barangay health centers nearby provide minimal mental health services. assistance and advice to community members, frequently at no cost.
- University-Based Mental Health Services- Many universities in the Philippines provide free mental health services to their students, including counseling and therapy sessions.
References:
Fonseca, N. (2023, March 29). 10 Factors That Lead to Employee Burnout. Great Place to Work. https://www.greatplacetowork.ca/en/articles/10-factors-that-lead-to-employee-burnout
Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. (2023, November 30). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642
Suttie, J. (2021, October 5). Six Causes of Burnout at Work. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_causes_of_burnout_at_work
WebMD Editorial Contributor. (2024, March 5). Burnout: symptoms and signs. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/burnout-symptoms-signs
What kinds of things cause people to experience job burnout? (2001, January 16). https://www.careervillage.org/questions/834722/what-kinds-of-things-cause-people-to-experience-job-burnout#:~:text=%E2%80%A2%20Uncertainty%20or%20confusion%20about%20job%20roles%2C%20duties%2C%20or%20expectations%20can%20lead,to%20burnout.
What kinds of things cause people to experience job burnout? (2024, January 16). Careervillage.org. https://www.careervillage.org/questions/834722/what-kinds-of-things-cause-people-to-experience-job-burnout
Suttie, J. (2021, October 5). Six Causes of Burnout at Work. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_causes_of_burnout_at_work
