Author: Yana Reprintseva, Director of the Directorate for Health and Safety Development — EVRAZ
Burnout syndrome is a concept introduced to psychology by American psychiatrist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974, characterized by increasing emotional exhaustion. It can lead to personality changes in the sphere of interpersonal communication (up to the development of profound cognitive distortions).
Key sign – prolonged nature (not just fatigue).
Work-related signs:
- Decreased initiative
- Shift in work schedule (arriving late, leaving late)
- Excessive delegation
Behavioral signs:
- Cynicism
- Frequent "short-term" illnesses
- Withdrawal from the team
Pay attention to:
- Completion of a major project
- Overachieving ambitious goals for three consecutive years
- Changes in the psycho-emotional nature of the work
- Five to seven years in the same position with the same responsibilities
What to do:
- Those most adaptable to work and least prone to burnout are those whose personal life load (outside of work hours) is equally high
- "Sabbaticals" haven't helped anyone yet
- Active engagement should prevail. It is important to find the right ratio (how many hours of rest for how many hours of work)
- Changing activities and intellectual challenges within the zone of proximal development (the next level of incompetence) helps
- High-demand learning and taking exams bring a fresh perspective to one's work