Earlier this year I was grabbing a coffee with a social researcher to discuss the ins and outs of creating a safety culture. During the conversation, she asked me how much I knew about the topic of burnout. I answered honestly that I didn’t know much. Like so many of the ‘buzzwords’ around well-being, I conjured a vague picture that is probably best described as “next-level exhaustion”. She went on to share the story of another researcher and author who had done deep work in this space.
What if we’re talking about mental health problems with people, when, in reality, they are not unwell, they are burnt out? She asked.
That got me thinking. What if we are talking to people and helping them overcome the stigma that is ‘mental illness’ when in fact they are experiencing exhaustion and burn-out?
How many people, possibly our typical Aussie blokes, are avoiding discussion and investigation of their ‘symptoms’ due to the stigma around mental health, when they are – in good old Aussie slang – completely ‘stuffed’?
I love a bit of slang as much as anyone, but if I’m going to talk about something as a well-being practitioner, quality evidence is the only way to go. So off I went, down a little rabbit hole of learning.
It turns out that burnout has quite a clear definition and there is not only a body of evidence about it. The World Health Organisation refers to Burnout as an ‘occupational phenomenon’.
Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
In some countries, this ‘syndrome’ is a diagnosable illness.
My reading took me to several places. It got me questioning why the WHO refers to this specifically as workplace-related. In today's world of aiming for success, in this world for us and our families, both work and ‘life’ carry similar hallmarks. Scheduling, productivity, goals, systems, growth, continuous improvement. For many, they relate to all aspects of work. Arguably therefore the challenges of ‘workplace’ stress are not ring-fenced inside the workplace.
Arguably, therefore the very construct of work-life balance could be contributing to exhaustion and burnout.
Oliver Burkeman, a renowned expert on efficiency and productivity, delves deep into the topic of burnout in his insightful book, 'Four Thousand Weeks.' The exploration spans the history of time, shedding light on how societal norms have driven us into a pursuit of 'more' and 'better' across both work and life.
In the last five years, compelling research has emerged, highlighting the intricate connection between burnout, depression, and anxiety. A noteworthy psychometric tool has even been developed to gauge one's level of burnout based on the three defining factors of the phenomenon.
So, what exactly defines burnout, and how can we address it? These are the questions we've been exploring with approximately 100 individuals, and we're excited to share these insights with you as well. How can we identify the three factors contributing to burnout, and what proactive steps can we take to prevent and manage it for ourselves and others?
Join us in uncovering the answers and fostering a healthier approach to work and life.
Following our successful launch, this month’s Culturise bites will follow our ‘recipe’ for an insightful and useful lunch break.
Work-Life Balance? or Work-Life Burnout?
· Some fascinating history
· Latest quality research and findings
· Pathway to best practice.
· Our 4Ps…practical tools to take away – Actions linked to Personal, Planning, Process and People
An entertaining and thought-provoking 45 minutes with an extra 15 of engaging conversation for those who can hang around.
Take a break from the juggle!
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