Beat Job Burnout: What to Do (and When to Quit)

Job burnout can cause problems both for the individual who feels it as well as for the organization where they work. Employees who suffer from job burnout generally have lower moral and productivity as well as higher absenteeism and tardiness. Their job performance slips and errors increase.

If you feel like you are on the verge of job burnout or if you are a supervisor who would like to eliminate the likelihood that your subordinates will become burned out with their jobs, here are some things you need to know.

What is Job Burnout?

Job burnout is most frequently equated with job stress. And while they may have very similar symptoms - sleeplessness, aches and pains, irritability - they stem from different causes.

Job stress may be caused by too much work or pressure from your job. Often times it is temporary (short-term projects like tax season) and it doesn't necessarily mean you no longer like your job.

Job burnout, on the other hand, comes after too much long-term stress; when you get to the point where you can't take it anymore, you're ready to crack and you've lost all interest in improving the situation. It generally stems from some external problem - weak supervisor or company practices - that you feel at a loss to correct.

Dealing with Job Burnout

The only way to deal with job burnout is to first recognize it. Once you know that you've reached the end of your rope, it's time to take corrective action. Begin by looking at your current situation and ask yourself these questions:

• Do you like your chosen profession?
• Do you like your job/responsibilities?
• Do you like your employer?
• Do you enjoy your co-workers?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, then you need to focus on the reasons why. For instance, if you like your profession, but just not your current job, perhaps there are ways you can alter what you are currently doing without quitting. Evaluate which duties you like the most and determine if you can eliminate the duties you like least. This may mean redefining your job, swapping responsibilities with a co-worker, taking on new or more challenging job duties or finding another position within the company that is better suited to your likes and goals.

You may also want to consider getting professional help. If your company offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you can take advantage of this great benefit by receiving career or personal counseling.

Understand that how you view your job or where you take your career is up to you. Plan where you want to go. Whether that means on-the-job training, further external education, or some other way to advance your career and avoid job burnout.

Whatever you do, ensure you have balance in your life. Have outside interests and friends. Build in physical activity during your workday - take a walk at lunch - and during your spare time. Keep your mind active by reading, writing or through some other stimulus. Take a much needed vacation, even if it's only for a long weekend.

If, at the end of the day, the job, the company, and the people you work with no longer cut it, consider moving on. While quitting your job should not be the answer to all your work problems, it can sometimes be the only way to beat job burnout.