Topic key points
- Burnout is a state of emotional, mental and/or physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. The stress can come from one place (i.e. work) or from juggling multiple demands.
- Signs of burnout can be cognitive, emotional, behavioural and/or physiological.
- As a coach, you are in a great position to help clients recognise, prevent and recover from burnout.
Introduction to Topic
Burnout is a natural response to burning the candle at both ends. Most of us can sprint for short distances but trying to sprint for too long will lead to exhaustion and fatigue. In many ways, burnout is similar. Our risk of burnout increases if we are working towards goals that don’t align with our values/strengths and/or if we lack adequate support. Some common signs of burnout are:
Emotional:
- Increased frustration
- Irritability, anger, bitterness, cynicism
- Feeling guilty for resting/doing pleasurable things
- A sense of ‘running on empty’
- Sense of dread towards work
Cognitive:
- Difficulty making decisions and concentrating
- A growing tendency to think negatively
- A loss of a sense of purpose or vitality
- Decreased self-efficacy and confidence
Behavioural:
- Imbalance between life demands
- Difficulty getting motivated
- Making more mistakes than usual
Physiological:
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Loss of energy
The word itself can give us an idea of the key dimensions of burnout (APS, 2019):
- Burn: The ‘burn’ component expresses as irritability, frustration, anger, cynicism and/or bitterness.
- Out: The ‘out’ component refers to feeling drained and exhausted. Our passion and enthusiasm become depleted. We feel detached and want to distance, not just from others, but emotionally and cognitively from our work.
- Inefficacy: Burn out is often accompanied by negative self-evaluation. We judge ourselves for feeling burnt-out. Self-doubt, feelings of incompetency and a perceived lack of personal accomplishment can further plague our spirit.
Burnout is a common and natural response to prolonged exposure to stress and demands. As a coach, you are in a great position to help clients recognise, prevent and recover from burnout.
Included resources
- Black Dog Institute Signs and Symptoms of Burnout
- Beyond Blue guide to managing burnout
- Black Dog Institute navigating burnout
- MindTools: Recovering from burnout
- Transitioning Well: Tools for re-energising your workforce
- APS understanding and managing stress
Copy for Clients
As discussed in our session, burnout is a natural and common response to prolonged stress. Many of us can sprint for short distances but trying to sprint for too long will lead to exhaustion and fatigue. Fortunately, there are practical things we can do to recognise, prevent and recover from burnout. Attached are some resources related to burnout that you might find useful.