I want to share a quote from the leading researcher on burnout, Dr. Christina Maslach, with you:
"A pickle doesn't start out as a pickle. It starts out being a cucumber, and it's only because it's in an environment of brine that it becomes something else."
Are you being pickled by your environment?
Here's how to answer that question.
There are three components of burnout:
- Exhaustion
- Cynicism (feeling negative about your work or your life)
- A sense of ineffectiveness (believing that you cannot do the things that you need to)
Let's take a quick pulse check on each of these three components and see how you're doing. Ask yourself these questions:
- Exhaustion: Do you feel tired and fatigued? Do you rest but never recover?
- Cynicism: Do you feel negative about your work or your purpose? Are people frustrating you or upsetting you more than usual?
- Ineffectiveness: Are you feeling inadequate or like you can’t get anything done? Are you struggling to do the things that you need to do to take care of yourself?
If you answer yes to these questions, it might be worth taking a moment to consider what changes could be made to improve your working situation. To help, we've put together a detailed guide (with strategies for managers and team leaders on what they can do that will make a difference, too.)