How can we detect the signs of burnout caused by work in ourselves and our colleagues?

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 12. 21. 09:27

For many workers, December is less about the beauty of preparing for the holidays: in certain industries, instead of slowing down, acceleration is typical, which often causes significant additional workload for employees. More people are exposed to the risk of burnout caused by excessive workload than we might imagine: this phenomenon is not noticeable, often the people involved do not perceive it incorrectly or at all, which is why it is extremely important to deal with it on an individual and employer level – not only during the rush before the holidays.

The “burnout” syndrome – or, as we often refer to it in everyday language in Hungary, burnout – is a much more common phenomenon than we might think at first. The danger is precisely that the symptoms do not appear suddenly and markedly, but slowly and gradually, because of this, the employee’s environment usually does not perceive it, but often not even the affected person himself. What can these symptoms be and how can they be treated if we notice their appearance?

Often, in addition to emotional exhaustion, burnout can also have physiological and, ultimately, health signs: the person concerned may experience long-lasting fatigue, lack of energy, headaches, or even digestion and sleep problems. Among its most characteristic signs, which can also be detected from the outside, are the person’s lack of interest and indifference to his work, becoming more and more emotionless, increasingly frequent absences from social events, stress and decreased performance.