Types of Burnout
When we think of burnout, we often think of just one flavor, overwork, but there is more to it than that.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.
It occurs when someone is overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.
Overload Burnout: This type of burnout is the closest to our traditional understanding of burnout. It happens when people work too hard and push themselves too much in a high-stress environment, often in an attempt to achieve a certain level of success. It is characterized by exhaustion, often to the detriment of personal time and recovery periods.
Under-Challenged Burnout: This type of burnout can happen when someone is bored, uninterested, and not challenged enough in their job. This can lead to disengagement, cynicism, and lack of personal development. People experiencing this type of burnout often feel undervalued or unfulfilled in their work.
Neglect Burnout: This type of burnout happens when someone feels helpless and unable to cope with the demands of their job. This might be due to lack of control, lack of skills, resources or support needed to perform their job effectively. It can lead to avoidance and ignoring job tasks, which in turn can lead to failure and guilt.
Understanding the different types of burnout can help individuals, managers, and organizations to recognize the signs and intervene effectively.
It's important to remember that burnout can be managed and overcome with the right resources and support.
You're not broken.
This isn't permanent.
It does get better.
Not sure what to do next? Check out the Needs Improvement Podcast, where we dive even deeper into these topics with experts.
