Hard work never killed anybody but why take a chance on being the first?
There are a lot of ways to manage your work stress, one of them is to try and leave at a reasonable hour and not feel guilty about it. The other is to not sweat too much over details that you can’t control.
Burnout is excessive mental or emotional exhaustion on the job, resulting in an inablility to do tasks you were once competent at. Burnout is a warning signal. If left unheeded and unchecked, it could lead to serious depression or anxiety.
The warning signs of a crisis:
- Getting sick more frequently. Illnesses that are common in this instance include headaches, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, common cold and heart palpitations
- Feeling sad
- Smoking and drinking more than usual
- Loss of appetite
- Sleeplessness
- Fatigue
- Sexual problems
- Easily irritable
- Loss of confidence
- Becoming cynical
- Feeling of self-doubt
- Lack of motivation, new ideas
“We should not look at burnout as personal weakness,” says Prof Fones. “It is the collective responsibility of the individual, the company and society. It is not really anybody’s fault.” He also added, perfectionists and people with high expectations are more prone to burnout. So are Mr Nice Guy types who do not know how to say “no” and end up taking on too many tasks.
Working women are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than men. This could be due to their bearing a greater load both at home and at work.