Burnout (And how to avoid it!)

The slowdown in the economy and in the job market has obviously had a direct impact on many people. Some of them have lost their jobs, and some job seekers are finding it far more challenging to land a gig.

But the economic slowdown has also had an effect on workers who are still an active part of the workforce. Downsizing is leading to increased workloads – which is resulting in a rise in stress levels around the workplace. Many workers are feeling completely burned out.

We surveyed more than 7,600 workers across the country and found out how they were being affected. Nearly half of those surveyed (45 percent) said that their workload was heavy or too heavy. And 23 percent indicated they were unhappy with their work/life balance.

So, what can workers do to avoid reaching the burnout zone?  Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com, suggests talking to your boss or supervisor about flexible benefits.  Employees might have an option to take advantage of one or more of these flexible benefits:

• Alternative schedules
• Compressed work weeks
• Telecommuting
• Job sharing
• Summer hours

Haefner suggests that employees develop a business plan, with an outline of your accomplishments and an explanation of how these flexible benefits will enhance your productivity and your performance.

If you get a resounding “no” from the boss, there are still steps you can take to reduce stress and avoid job burnout.

• Manage your timelines at work and at home. “No” is a valid answer, and if you already have competing projects and priorities, you have to delay or decline additional commitments whenever possible.
• Stay organized. Maintain a day-to-day “to do” list. Focus on JUST those tasks on that day.
• Check in with the boss. Talk with your boss as you proceed through your projects. Check in occasionally and make sure that you agree on what projects are taking top priority.
• Keep it in balance. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
• Take a break. No matter how tight your timeline is, take a break. That break might be a vacation or a long weekend. It might even be a walk around the block.

Has your workload increased? What are you doing to avoid burnout? Tell us all about it.