by September Gray

Created on: August 11, 2010

The average person will spend 8 hours 5 days a week working between the ages of 18-65. That’s 97,464 of our waking hours dedicated to our jobs. With statistics like these it is likely all of us have or will experience burnout at one point in our lives. It is vital that we learn to recognize and deal with the symptoms in order to avoid job burnout.

Fatigue

It doesn’t matter if you have a job that involves a lot of physical labor or one that entails sitting at a desk all day. If you are putting in too many hours, you may develop fatigue. Coffee and other energy drinks are not the answer. They will increase exhaustion when your adrenalin crashes. It’s better to fuel your body with healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Also, a short walk during your break or lunch time can work wonders in energizing you.

Vacation

We can’t all afford to dash off to the nearest cruise ship, but this doesn’t mean we can’t take a day off from work. Simply spending a day with the family can be refreshing. Take the dog for a long walk, go shopping, or dedicate the day to that hobby you never seem to have time for anymore. If time off is out of the question, then at least say no to overtime whenever possible. As stated before, we spend quite enough time working. More than 40 hours a week will overwhelm you over a period of time.

Remove yourself from stress inducing scenarios

Although we’re supposed to be all grown up, work can quickly become a playground. We’ve all experienced the wrath of the backstabbing coworker, or been the target of the office gossip. Don’t sit next to these people. Don’t make eye contact.  If they are causing you too much stress, request a transfer to another department.

Stay positive

Job burnout can be brought on by cynicism. If you feel your job is a dead end, or that you are underappreciated, you are more likely to experience burn out. No company can be all bad. There must be something about your job you like. Concentrate on the positive aspects. Remember, there is always one person in the office that annoys the rest with constant complaints. Don’t be that person. Instead, try to create a lighter atmosphere. If your company doesn’t hold an annual Christmas party, this doesn’t mean you can’t get your coworkers involved and plan one for yourselves. Vases of flowers placed on desk tops will immediately brighten a room and your mood along with it. Pictures of family members will remind you that there is more to your life than work,

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