On the edge of burnout

“I feel like I do a day’s worth of work before I go to work and another day’s work when I get home.”

Sounds familiar? This comment, shared by a working mother as part of a Meiava Working Women’s Survey, is relatable to many women. While things may have altered due to COVID-19 since the Meiava survey in March/April, the work-from-home coupled with online kids schooling may have just shifted the location to be centered now at home.

Working women are increasingly on the edge of burnout from having to do it all. Working mothers - who juggle a career, a growing family, and for some Generation X and Y women the responsibility of caring for aging parents – often feel a greater pressure to be superhuman. While sometimes we tend to place this pressure on ourselves, the high expectations of others at home, at work, and in our social lives, perpetuates the need to be always on top of things. We get use to carrying the workload - and the people around us get accustomed to seeing how we miraculously manage everything so efficiently and gracefully. But this is simply not sustainable.

Over a year ago, I personally felt on the edge of burnout. Although I pride myself for being highly productive and having an expanded capacity to both handle a career while being an engaged parent, my mental and physical wellness started to suffer. It was when found myself Googling the word “burnout” that I realized some things had to change.

The World Health Organization deems burnout as a medical condition. The chronic stress from the high demands of work and life creates emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. It looks like I am not alone in this. Researching this more, I found how burnout is a real issue. As an example, a survey of women and men in the United States conducted by Meredith Corporation and Harris Polls revealed that 81% of women thought that “we live in a world that glorifies busy”, and about 20% of women feel more burnt-out, more stressed (36%), or more tired (33%) in their daily life compared to five years ago.

Fighting burnout

To fight burnout, the same study revealed that many women look to wellness and other activities that improve their overall well-being. Yet two-thirds of women (66%) surveyed indicated that while “wellness activities are great, often they just feel like more things that I need to add to my list to feel accomplished.” What this tells us is that it is not just about time for wellness, but also addressing other aspects of our lives to find a holistic and individualized solution.

Women are tackling burnout by making life changes, from major changes such as switching or quitting their jobs, moving homes, and ending relationships, to taking social media detox and adding a wellness regimen.

A time to refocus

When you have reached or come close to the edge of burnout, it is time for an intervention. In addition to finding time for wellness, it is just as important to take the time to step back to look at your life overall to find out what other changes may help. Some practical ways to get on a healthier path:

1.   Take time out to reflect on your short- and long-term work and life goals and write these down.

2.   Prioritize time on your calendar for these goals and the people that matter most to you.

3.   Say “No” more often to work, events, and asks that people make of you.

4.   Find a way to streamline your to-do-list.

5.   Perhaps the hardest - let go of the need to carry the load all by yourself. Ask for help to get it done together. Ask for supporters to help you with your work and life goals.

I am trying these steps myself and it has brought some calm and clarity to my days. With time, hopefully this may also help you to reset your view of what a happy work-life integration means for you – to keep you far away from the edge of burnout.

Sources: World Health Organization. Meredith and Harris Poll. Burnout Flashpoint. May 2019.

Photo: By pathdoc | Shutterstock