We’ve all had those days at work — the days you feel completely unmotivated, bored, exhausted and just “over it.” But what happens when those days turn into weeks, months or even years?
In today’s career culture, I believe the idea that if you work hard, long, fast and love everything you do, you’ll achieve fulfillment and success is an unrealistic and dangerous formula that can lead to chronic unhappiness and anxiety about your career. I've found it’s also a quick road to burnout.
A 2018 Gallup study of 7,500 employees found that roughly a quarter (23%) of all workers reported feeling burned out in their jobs often or always. This number jumps to 44% when looking at workers who feel burned sometimes. This illustrates that employee burn-out is becoming increasingly problematic in people’s careers.
I've found that we often think of burnout as a result of feeling physically overworked and exhausted at your job. But as a professional coach, I've observed burnout can also result in feeling emotionally and mentally drained, which can have an equally devastating effect in your career. It can kill momentum, lower your energy, decrease your level of engagement and make you feel lost, stuck and frustrated about your current job, career path and areas of your life outside of work.
In terms of your career, I believe you can flourish if you find enjoyment both in and outside of your work and if you feel a sense of purpose in what you do. If you’re burned out, you’re likely missing one or both of those factors.
I often think of the effects of burnout as similar to damage to a car. There can be many causes to the damage, and a variety of symptoms ranging in severity. Like a malfunctioning car, everything might look OK on the outside, but inside, there’s some work to be done. The problem might only need a quick fix, or it might require a deeper and more extensive repair. To find the right solution, you need to first identify why all of the parts aren't working.
Here are the three types of burnout I've observed throughout my experience of coaching clients and how you can overcome them to thrive in your career:
Cruise Control Burnout
If you’re on “cruise control” in the workplace, you likely feel a strong sense of “settling” in your career. You might feel bored, restless and lazy. You might casually go into work late, leave early for happy hour and spend much of your time browsing social media during the day. Something is missing, and you’re saying to yourself, “There has to be more than this.” You’re likely over the boredom and ready for a new challenge in your career.
If you’re experiencing this, it’s a sign you need to discover more purpose in your work. I've found the solution often requires a change in your career, possibly by exploring a different job or career path, starting a side business or learning a new skill through further education. If you feel like you’re on cruise control, take action to get out of your comfort zone, and explore how you can challenge yourself more in and out of work.
Overdrive Burnout
With this type of burnout, I've found that many leaders like the actual work they do, but it feels like a total drag. You might have a stressful office environment, report to a demanding boss or work long hours (or all of the above). As a result, your life outside of work could be suffering, too because your career is taking a toll on your personal relationships, social life and health. This is where I've found perfectionist tendencies and time management issues tend to live. A common message I often hear from leaders who are in overdrive is, “I can’t keep this up.” You are physically and mentally exhausted and desperate for more fun, enjoyment and relief from stress.
To repair overdrive burnout, take a step back to assess how you’re spending your time to make sure your basic needs are being met. Identify what can come off your plate, delegate unnecessary tasks, and adopt time-management techniques so you can commit attention to other priorities that bring more enjoyment into your life.
Crash And Burnout
In my experience, this can be the most debilitating type of burnout for your career. If you’re experiencing "crash and burnout," it might be hard for you to get out of bed in the morning for work, your weekends might be filled with dread for Monday, and you likely have no motivation or energy at work or the other areas of your life. You might contemplate drastic career moves, such as suddenly quitting your job. I've also observed that many leaders experience this type of burnout tend to spend too many hours online applying to jobs out of desperation for something new (aka the failed “spray and pray” approach).
This type of burnout should be taken very seriously. It requires deeper reflection and evaluation of your current career path, as well as the other areas of your life that feel dysfunctional. Crash and burnout can be fixed with additional help and support, ideally from a therapist or coach who will help you identify how you can function better and find enjoyment in your work and life.
Burnout is a common occurrence for many people and can strike at any point in your career. When you’re lacking purpose or any sense of fun, freedom or enjoyment in your job, it can take quite a toll on your work and personal life. Any degree of burnout can drive you into a rut, but the moment you acknowledge its presence and become aware of how it’s affecting you, you can start to identify the repairs you need to make so you can get back into the fast lane toward a flourishing and thriving career.
