It’s not necessarily a comfortable subject to talk about, but it is increasingly relevant in the complex and challenging world we live in. Burnout is a state of chronic stress that has profound effects on many aspects of our lives. It covers a wide range of emotions that include physical and emotional exhaustion; cynicism and detachment from others as ell as an overall reduction in performance and levels of effectiveness.
In this podcast conversation, my co-host Andrew Horton and I discuss our own personal experiences of burnout.
We also explore just how pervasive burnout is. Statistics from organisations like the Boston Consulting Group state for 2016 it affects:
31% of doctors in the United States.
69% of male financial professionals
87% of Hong Kong financial professionals in institutional asset management.
In the UK it it has been reported that 90% of general practice consultations have some degree of stress related to them.
These are staggeringly high figures and yet we do not hear much about burnout.
Do join us in this discussion as we look at practical steps you can take to protect yourself during times of stress and find ways to not just survive, but actually thrive.
For additional resources on this subject do see:
5 Lessons I’ve Learnt From Burnout
Podcast #022 The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Podcast #013 How To Grow In Resilience
What thoughts, comments and strategies do you have about preventing burnout in your own life?
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I think stress is extremely common across a wide range or professions and non professional jobs, and to a large extent it is acceptable and even healthy within limits.
Do you think people use the phrase burn out too easily?
I find if I am over doing it, I become ill, lose energy and start to grind to a halt ie your symptom #1. (I haven’t really experienced the other symptoms I don’t think). Its certainly annoying but maybe its my body;s way of not burning out!
That’s an interesting perspetive Chris. Maybe the more important thing is to grow in self-awareness as to when you are not at your optimal best (or not) and make adjustments accordingly.
In terms of using the phrase burnout too easily, I think there has definitely been an acceleration in expectations and general busyness at work. I think that is unsustainable and so the old ways of just putting in more effort or hours will not deal with the underlying issues.
Hi Sunil, I thought the infographic from this link would be useful information on the effects and remedies for burnout. https://www.crossway.org/blog/2017/03/infographic-the-common-yet-neglected-problem-of-burnout/
Thank you Pablo for the link.
It looks like an interesting book.