4 Signs of Impending Burnout
Four Signs of Impending Burnout
Burnout is not just stress. It is a physiological and psychological state that results from sustained periods of stress.
It occurs when the body and mind do not have an opportunity to enter a state of rest and recovery. The effects of burnout can be emotional, physical, and spiritual.
Burnout is not a sign of personal failure - it is a sign of systems failure. Next week we will share some burnout prevention strategies.
1. Emotional Dissonance
Emotional dissonance arises when there's a gap between the emotions we feel and the emotions we're required to express, often in a workplace setting. According to a study by Grandey (2000), such dissonance is especially common in 'emotion labor' roles where employees must manage their emotional expressions as part of their job duties.
The constant dissonance between the representative's true emotions and their professional persona can lead to emotional exhaustion, a key component of burnout.
2. Cognitive Impairments
Chronic occupational burnout is associated with significant cognitive impairments, as demonstrated by studies like Oosterholt et al. (2012). This research shows that burnout is linked to deficits in memory and attention. Similarly, Melamed et al. (2006) confirmed a decline in cognitive functioning proportional to the severity of burnout symptoms. While not all cognitive impairment is due to burnout, it is often a forgotten cause.
3. Emotional Numbness
Emotional numbness is a state of detachment and lack of emotional response. It's often seen as a coping mechanism during chronic stress or emotional pain, and is linked to burnout. According to a paper by Hakanen and Schaufeli (2012), such numbness could be a component of emotional exhaustion, a dimension of burnout.
For instance, a high-stress job like emergency healthcare can lead to a state of emotional numbness. Over time, the continual exposure to high-stress situations can result in a healthcare worker feeling emotionally numb, no longer experiencing emotional reactions to situations that used to cause joy, sadness, or fear.
4. Loss of Creativity
As individuals experience emotional exhaustion, they may begin to feel emotionally numb, losing their ability to connect with their emotions and stifling their creative potential.
This emotional detachment can lead to a loss of inspiration and innovation, hindering problem-solving skills and inhibiting the generation of novel ideas.
Over time, this negative impact on creativity can become a significant barrier to personal growth and professional success, undermining an individual's ability to thrive in their chosen field.
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Grandey, A. A. (2000). Emotion regulation in the workplace: A new way to conceptualize emotional labor. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(1), 95-110.
Oosterholt, B. G., Maes, J. H., Van der Linden, D., Verbraak, M. J., & Kompier, M. A. (2012). Cognitive performance in both clinical and non-clinical burnout. Stress, 15(4), 423-434.
Melamed, S., Shirom, A., Toker, S., Berliner, S., & Shapira, I. (2006). Burnout and risk of cardiovascular disease: Evidence, possible causal paths, and promising research directions. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 327-353.
Hakanen, J. J., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2012). Do burnout and work engagement predict depressive symptoms and life satisfaction? A three-wave seven-year prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 141(2-3), 415-424.
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