13 Signs of Burnout and How To Help You Avoid It
By Henry Neils
In some ways it was a typical breakfast meeting. The waitress was pleasant, the eggs were average, and the restaurant was full of busy people. We shared a cup of black, coffee-like substance, and the first few times my client took a sip he managed to spill quite a bit of it. His trembling hand was just one of the symptoms of his burnout. That’s why we were meeting. He wanted to know if I could help him.
I picked up a fork and explained that as long as I used it for eating, the fork would last indefinitely. However, if I began to use it to drive nails or dig trenches, it would soon break. The key was to use it for what it was designed to do.
The look in his eyes told me he got it, but I still went on to say that people are like the fork. When they do what they are not designed to do, they eventually break.
Sure enough, his MAPP showed that he was designed to work on projects where there was a definite goal. He derived immense satisfaction from reaching goals. He also needed to work by himself about half the time. He was a scientist and enjoyed lab time, doing calculations, and interpreting test results.
What his job required on a day-to-day basis was another story. His primary task was to supervise a dozen people and maintain operations. No goals. No projects. No time alone. Consequently, his job was sucking the life out of him.
Much credit for his recovery goes to his boss who was willing to change the job content to fit the design of a valuable employee.
So how do you know if you, a loved one, or someone who reports to you is suffering from burnout? Here are the early warning signs.
1. Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
2. Anger at those making demands
3. Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
4. Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
5. A sense of being besieged
6. Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
7. Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
8. Weight loss or gain
9. Sleeplessness and depression
10. Shortness of breath
11. Suspiciousness
12. Feelings of helplessness
13. Increased degree of risk taking
Fight burnout. Do what you were designed to do. If you (or you know someone who does) fit this description have him/her take the MAPP Assessment.
Take a close look at what is said about you in your MAPP, and what you are naturally motivated toward with regard to your work. Sometimes a simple change at work can help you avoid many (if not all) of the early warning signs of Burnout.
Henry Neils
President
www.Assessment.com
Henry Neils is President and Founder of Assessment.com, the leading online career assessment company focused on helping employees and employers work together for their mutual benefit. Millions of people have gained personal insight into their careers by using the tools, such as MAPP™ (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential), provided at Assessment.com.
Friday, February 20, 2009
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Friday, February 13, 2009
Health News
Tips for Relieving Stress
by Eisla Sebastian
Stress symptoms can manifest in many ways. It can appear as a migraine headache, as muscle pain, as anxiety or as depression. If you have a disability then you have more stress in your life than the average person simply because you have more obstacles and challenges to deal with in your life. Because of this, it is very important that you learn how to relieve stress through the REACH process: Relax, Exercise, Alter your environment, Create a support system and ask for Help when you need it.
Stress Management Tip No. 1: Relax
Relaxation techniques can be very helpful for relieving stress. Stretching is a great way to release the tension in your muscles and help your body and mind to relax. Deep breathing exercises are also very effective for helping you to relax. Aromatherapy, reflexology and massage therapy treatments are other options that you have for helping you to relax.
Stress Management Tip No. 2: Exercise
Exercise is a very important part of a stress management program. Even if you have limited mobility, you can still find exercises that will release the energy stored up in your muscles and in turn help your body to relax. Exercise also helps your brain to produce happy chemicals like adrenaline and epinephrine which will reduce negative emotions associated with stress like anxiety and depression.
Stress Management Tip No. 3: Alter Your Environment
Stress can be caused by many external factors like traffic and even clutter. An easy way to reduce the amount of stress in your life is to alter your environment so that you have limited exposure to external stressors. For example, if your living room is cluttered with papers, furniture, knick-knacks and other items, then get rid of the things you don't need or want and reorganize the things you want to keep so that the living area is less cluttered and so that it has more open space.
Stress Management Tip No. 4: Create a Support System
Creating a support system is another important element of a stress management program, especially when you have a disability. Your support system can be made up of friends, family members, your case worker (if you have one) and the medical professionals that you work with. This support system will help you to deal more effectively with stressors in your life.
Stress Management Tip No. 5: Ask for Help When You Need It
Stress is difficult to deal with alone and the symptoms of stress can be compounded when you feel overwhelmed. To reduce the amount of stress you experience you need to learn to ask for help when you need it. Help can take the form of asking a friend to take you to the grocery store, hiring a care aid to help you with housework or working with a counselor to help you deal with issues and stress that are impacting your life. Once adopted, this technique can be very effective at relieving stress.
See Eisla Sebastian’s Profile on Disaboom
See Eisla Sebastian’s Profile on Associated Content
by Eisla Sebastian
Stress symptoms can manifest in many ways. It can appear as a migraine headache, as muscle pain, as anxiety or as depression. If you have a disability then you have more stress in your life than the average person simply because you have more obstacles and challenges to deal with in your life. Because of this, it is very important that you learn how to relieve stress through the REACH process: Relax, Exercise, Alter your environment, Create a support system and ask for Help when you need it.
Stress Management Tip No. 1: Relax
Relaxation techniques can be very helpful for relieving stress. Stretching is a great way to release the tension in your muscles and help your body and mind to relax. Deep breathing exercises are also very effective for helping you to relax. Aromatherapy, reflexology and massage therapy treatments are other options that you have for helping you to relax.
Stress Management Tip No. 2: Exercise
Exercise is a very important part of a stress management program. Even if you have limited mobility, you can still find exercises that will release the energy stored up in your muscles and in turn help your body to relax. Exercise also helps your brain to produce happy chemicals like adrenaline and epinephrine which will reduce negative emotions associated with stress like anxiety and depression.
Stress Management Tip No. 3: Alter Your Environment
Stress can be caused by many external factors like traffic and even clutter. An easy way to reduce the amount of stress in your life is to alter your environment so that you have limited exposure to external stressors. For example, if your living room is cluttered with papers, furniture, knick-knacks and other items, then get rid of the things you don't need or want and reorganize the things you want to keep so that the living area is less cluttered and so that it has more open space.
Stress Management Tip No. 4: Create a Support System
Creating a support system is another important element of a stress management program, especially when you have a disability. Your support system can be made up of friends, family members, your case worker (if you have one) and the medical professionals that you work with. This support system will help you to deal more effectively with stressors in your life.
Stress Management Tip No. 5: Ask for Help When You Need It
Stress is difficult to deal with alone and the symptoms of stress can be compounded when you feel overwhelmed. To reduce the amount of stress you experience you need to learn to ask for help when you need it. Help can take the form of asking a friend to take you to the grocery store, hiring a care aid to help you with housework or working with a counselor to help you deal with issues and stress that are impacting your life. Once adopted, this technique can be very effective at relieving stress.
See Eisla Sebastian’s Profile on Disaboom
See Eisla Sebastian’s Profile on Associated Content
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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