Burnout – how this plagues so many American workers. Burnout is a state of physical and psychological exhaustion that is related to chronic, unrelieved pressure/stress.
Burnout is a slow and subtle process that occurs in distinct stages:
- Enthusiasm
- Stagnation
- Frustration
- Apathy
Most of the symptoms of burnout occur in the frustration stages. Burned out workers often exhibit symptoms such as:
- apathy
- boredom
- depression
- lethargy
- physical illness
- irritability
Physical signs of burnout:
- Exhaustion
- Fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Inability to shake a cold
- Frequent headaches
- Stomach problems
Behavioral signs of burnout:
- Quick to anger
- Takes risks too easily
- If usually a talker, now is silent
- If usually a leader, now is a follower
Psychological signs of burnout:
- Rigidity
- Totally negative attitude
- Works harder and harder, but produces less and less
- “Flight response” – running away
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