The other day, The Wall Street Journal published an article by Rachel Feintzeig entitled Feeling Burned Out at Work? Join the Club. The article is about how the burnout problem appears to be worsening which is driving up turnover and health costs for companies. It discusses how companies contribute to burnout creating cultures that include universal factors such as:
- job uncertainty
- an expectation that you always be in work mode thanks to technology or being responsible for people and initiatives happening in other countries – who doesn’t love a conference call at 2:00 AM?
- an ever-present “do more with less” expectation
But have companies single-handedly created these cultures or have workers manifested these factors from their fear-based beliefs born during times of economic uncertainty? In other words, is the workforce truly a victim of economic capitalism at its worst or are we powerful creators who still haven’t learned to wake up to and hold true to who we are, what we have to offer, and what it takes for us to provide our skills and services especially in times of economic uncertainty or in the face of fear-filled leaders who falsely believe the way to endure hard times is to pass a burden of giving more and receiving less onto their most valued commodity – their human resources?
Although there is so much companies can do to address this epidemic, workers simply cannot rest their laurels on their righteousness that companies are just not doing enough to help their employees heal. Workers must rise up to realize that although they are right that companies are wrong to enable these factors for short-term gains, it doesn’t justify throwing in the towel by settling for short-term solutions to address their sense of dwindling energy, power, and emotional (which drives physical) well-being.
If you are feeling burned out, your spirit is broken and only you can actually fix it. Companies know this – they make amends with the only solutions their fears will allow – band-aid solutions such as yoga or meditation at work. I’m not trashing either practice – both are fabulous and if your company offers them – be grateful. However they alone are not the solution that will heal you. You must find and engage in solutions that work for you to be emotionally aware and well.