Burn Bright, Not Out

BURNOUT

“It’s stupid o’clock in the morning. I’m wide awake and have been for two hours. Ironically I think tonight’s insomnia is because I am on holiday and I am thinking through what I may not have finished or handed over thoroughly enough. I suppose this means I am stressed...”
— Steve Jones
 

World Health Organization:

Burnout: a state of vital exhaustion

Maslach & Jackson

Emotional exhaustionDepersonalization Perceived lack of personal accomplishment

Official Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)

(Unofficial) MBI Self-Test

The 12 Stages of Burnout (from 99u)

  1. The Compulsion to Prove Oneself; demonstrating worth obsessively; tends to hit the best employees, those with enthusiasm who accept responsibility readily.

  2. Working Harder; an inability to switch off.

  3. Neglecting Their Needs; erratic sleeping, eating disrupted, lack of social interaction.

  4. Displacement of Conflicts; problems are dismissed, we may feel threatened, panicky and jittery.

  5. Revision of Values; values are skewed, friends and family dismissed, hobbies seen as irrelevant, work is only focus.

  6. Denial of Emerging Problems; intolerance, perceiving collaborators as stupid, lazy, demanding, or undisciplined, social contacts harder; cynicism, aggression; problems are viewed as caused by time pressure and work, not because of life changes.

  7. Withdrawal; social life small or non-existent, need to feel relief from stress, alcohol/drugs.

  8. Odd Behavioural Changes; changes in behaviour obvious, friends and family concerned.

  9. Depersonalization; seeing neither self nor others as valuable, and no longer perceive own needs.

  10. Inner Emptiness; feeling empty inside and to overcome this, look for activity such as overeating, sex, alcohol, or drugs; activities are often exaggerated.

  11. Depression; feeling lost and unsure, exhausted, future feels bleak and dark.

  12. Burnout Syndrome; can include total mental and physical collapse; time for full medical attention.

It's not just about relaxing more!

Lifestyle measures aka SELF CARE: things like exercise, eating healthy food, sleep, relaxation or meditation, mindfulness, learn to say NO.

Team-based measures: look out for each other, recognize burnout in yourself and in your teammates, talk about it; professional development.

Frame of mind measures: view stress as a challenge, not a threat; work smarter; develop resilience

Emcrit's GTD

Cooley E., Yovanoff P. (1996). Supporting professionals-at-risk: Evaluating interventions to reduce burnout and improve retention of special educators. Exceptional Children, 62, 336-355. 

Communication, Critical Care, Self-CareGuest UserComment