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Many of you Falcons may be tirelessly working during Winter Break. As the pandemic rages on, it is important to be looking out for signs of burnout and making sure you are prioritizing both your mental and physical health. As a student that is academically challenged throughout semesters, having a scheduled work responsibility during breaks can really affect you. Whether you are working a part-time job, an internship, a fellowship, a co-op, or even a full-time job if you’ve recently graduated, make sure to put yourself first.
Here are some common signs of burnout:
- Irritability
- Exhaustion
- Daydreaming
- Lessened productivity
- Drained energy
- Increased stress
- Isolation
While a lot of these common signs may not look or feel serious initially, they can change you as a person. For example, you may not be able to reach the work goals you previously set for yourself, more often find yourself involved with conflict, get sick more frequently due to prolonged stress, and so many other negative effects. So, how do you avoid burning out?
Of course, reducing the likelihood of burnout depends on your work role and your individual needs. Figure out what you may be missing from your role and whether your stress and burnout are coming from the tasks you’re performing, the quantity of work, the culture of your employer, or some other root cause. Then, you’ll be able to look at it from all angles and truly evaluate solutions.
However, here are some good ones:
For your own physical and mental health, you should:
- Eat a nutritious and balanced diet that works for you
- Prioritize your sleep
- Take breaks
- Exercise
- Connect with friends and family about your stress
For your productivity as an employee, you should:
- Plan your work out so that is easier to manage and more predictable
- Ask coworkers for advice or delegate tasks if you are in a position to do so
- Do not take on additional work
- Be less hard on yourself
- Look into switching roles or taking on a different project
- Find a mentor
For your general happiness in your place of employment, you should:
- Set boundaries on when you can be contacted for work.
- Join a community to take advantage of company culture.
- See if you can have more flexibility with your work responsibilities.
- Make sure your hybrid needs are met.
- Have a serious conversation with your boss if nothing you are trying is working.
Burnout is, unfortunately, something many, many employees (and students) experience but, fortunately, there are pretty clear signs and tangible ways to combat it! Read this article for more information on burnout, such as the 12 stages of burnout. And read this article for some additional but amazing ways to help yourself if you are experiencing burnout.
