Jan. 24, 2019 | Everyone at some point in their career begins to question their ability to continue working in their particular field, whether you’re a waitress or a window washer. Job burnout is not a medical condition but rather a specific type of work-related stress that can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion. According to a study conducted last year by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence involving over 1,000 U.S. employees, nearly half of those surveyed were exhausted and ready to leave their organizations. Burnout can be caused by an inability to control decisions that affect your job, such as your schedule, assignments or your workload. It can also be caused by an imbalance between work and your personal life. A person who works so much that they don’t have the energy to spend time with family or friends is at risk for burnout. A dysfunctional work environment, with undermining colleagues or a micro-managing supervisor, can add to job stress.

Jan. 24, 2019 | Job burnout is common in the medical field. Physicians dealing with burnout may display apathy toward their work or colleagues, indifference toward their patients or a loss of joy in the practice of medicine. A recent study conducted by a team of UAMS psychiatrists involving medical professionals in academic facilities found that women were more likely than men to be burned out in their profession. Nurses had the highest rate of personal burnout among medical professionals, according to the study published in BMJ Open, while resident physicians had the highest rate of work-related burnout. The study, led by UAMS’ Erick Messias, showed that burnout, once considered a major problem among physicians, could also be seen in residents, medical students and even research scientists. Because there are different kinds of burnout, the research team explained that different kinds of interventions were needed to address the problem.

Jan. 24, 2019 | Job burnout isn’t a physical illness but it can severely affect a person’s physical and mental health. A person experiencing job-related stress may suffer from chronic fatigue or insomnia. They may exhibit a lack of focus or concentration to the point where their work begins to pile up or go unfinished. Mild symptoms of tension or sorrow in the workplace can eventually develop into full-blown anxiety that can interfere with work productivity and cause problems at home. Burnout can cause you to have a loss of appetite and to skip meals, particularly with co-workers. In extreme cases, you may lose your appetite altogether and begin to lose weight. Physical symptoms of burnout can include chest pain, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal pain and headaches, all of which should be evaluated by a health-care provider. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness may be signs of depression and should be addressed immediately by a mental health professional.

Jan. 24, 2019 | Job burnout is not always readily apparent, even to someone dealing with it. Some research has shown that people with job burnout symptoms like anger, anxiety or a weakened immune system don’t believe their jobs are the main cause. In order to recognize this problem, ask yourself these questions. Do you find that you’ve become cynical or overly critical at work? Do you have trouble getting to work and, once you get there, getting started with your work? Do you find it hard to concentrate at work? Are you using drugs, food or alcohol to feel better or simply not feel at all? Have your sleep habits changed? Do you lack any satisfaction from your accomplishments? Do you have headaches, stomach or bowel problems or any physical ailments that can’t be explained? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing burnout and should talk to a health-care provider as these symptoms may be health related.

Jan. 24, 2019 | The stress and strains of work and family roles can have a great impact on a person’s health. Parents juggling work and family responsibilities often endure burnout at home or at work. To ease the pressures, be sure to fit relaxing moments into your daily routine. Shut your office door and do some deep-breathing exercises or skip that coffee break and take a short walk around the building. If you come home tired, try to compose yourself by spending a few moments by yourself each day to put distance between yourself and the day’s problems. Get the whole family involved in daily chores, whether it’s fixing a meal or cleaning up after it. Be sure to do the same on weekends. If cooking is too time consuming, stop and pick up dinner on the way home. And don’t overdo things once you get home, some chores may have wait until the weekend. All of these things will help you prevent a demanding job from having an adverse effect on your health.