Are you physically exhausted, emotionally drained, stressed to the max, or less motivated than unusual? Do you find that you are easily to irritate or more cynical? Are you having difficulty sleeping or noticing health problems such as high blood pressure, depression, or addiction? The problem is burnout. Jeannie Kadow, author of Preventing Job Burnout, defines burnout as "exhaustion or psychological exhaustion and diminished efficiency resulting from overwork or prolonged exposure to stress." It is the leading cause of death. In the United States alone, industry loses approximately 550 million working days annually due to absenteeism, with more than 50 percent of those absences related to stress. Stress levels are at an all time high and stress is prevalent in work and home environments, more people experience burnout today than ever before (Bergias).
Most people spend more than two thirds of waking hours at work; the interactions that most are exposed to on the job are the most likely candidates for creating or perpetuating burnout. Typically individuals who are at high risk for burnout includes those who can be describe as hardworking overachievers. Burnout is prevalent among people whose jobs deal with others expectations like teachers, attorneys, doctors, and social workers. Also, there are some personality characteristics that can lead to burnout which include the following:.
Inability to say no to demands on their time and energy for they will assume added responsibilities when they"re already working at capacity. .
Consistently sacrifices their personal lives for work.
Lacks control in their jobs and regularly suppress their emotions and do not discuss their problems.
Constantly criticizes themselves and has not learned to manage stress effectively (Wellsley).
So, what is the reason for this slavish devotion to the job? Most want to support a higher standard of living. Therefore, satisfying their appetite for newer, bigger, and better stuff.