Learn how to spot signs of burnout and what works for restoring wellbeing.

Burnout doesn’t happen all at once. It results from ongoing stress that makes it hard to keep up with daily life at work and home. It creeps in inch by inch until fatigue and overwhelm take over. During Mental Health Awareness Month it’s a good time to recognize the signs of burnout and explore ways to restore balance.

How burnout shows up

No one is immune to burnout, including business owners, managers and employees. These are common signs that burnout is developing or has already set in:

• Your thoughts are on a perpetual hamster wheel.
• Anxiety constantly lurks in the background and sometimes hijacks your thinking.
• No matter how much you rest, you feel exhausted.
• You regularly experience irritability and mood swings.
• Your body sends warning signs like headaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure, sleep problems or digestive issues.

Results of burnout in the workplace

Burnout can significantly affect individuals and organizations. For the person experiencing burnout, their wellbeing and relationships may suffer. Decision-making and focus may become difficult. In time, these problems can result in declines in productivity and innovation.

When employees experience burnout, high performers are the first to leave, according to Inc. Their departure compounds problems for owners and managers who have to replace them. In addition to ensuring work still gets done, bosses must spend time and money to hire someone new.

How to address burnout

Burnout recovery looks different for each person. Some find relief in setting boundaries, like unplugging from work emails, texts and Slack conversations after the workday ends. For others, recovery may involve breaks, seeking professional help, starting a new hobby or engaging in exercise.

One key step in turning around burnout is identifying what contributes to your stress and how it affects you. From there, you can distinguish between things within your control and what is not.

“The practice of recovery is more than time management, time off or time away,” wrote John Pladdys, a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University. “Recovery is restorative, rejuvenating and reengaging. Leaders and employees who practice recovery activities are in better health, enjoy their work, produce at higher levels and commit longer to their organizations.”

Help employees stress less about money

Burnout is a complex problem, and it often involves several factors, including financial stress. You can equip your employees to reduce or even prevent monetary pressure through financial education. Consider the Consumers @Work program, which empowers employees through free financial seminars and counseling, informational materials and more. To learn more about offering this financial literacy program to your employees, contact our @Work Team.

Federally insured by NCUA