ANSWER

This question isn't to imply that someone who has suffered from burnout is bad or weak. As a hiring manager, I understand that most people will face burnout during their career. This question is intended to see if people have healthy coping tools to help them through it. 

There are several reasons someone can feel burnt out:

• Organizational changes
• Have a feeling of little control
• Feeling responsible for too much
• Lack of resources to get the job done
• Unsure of expectations

Here are some ways to identify burnout:

• Emotional exhaustion
• Loss of motivation
• Disengagement
• Negative feelings about work
• Reduced feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment

Depending on the causes of your burnout and your personal preferences, there are many options for dealing with it:

• Talk with your manager. One of the big mistakes people make is missing excessive workdays or doing sub-par work without letting someone know what is going on. Depending on the situation, you may or may not be comfortable going into details with your manager, but if your manager at least knows you are having a hard time, they can reprioritize or reassign work as needed.
• Do the minimum necessary work to do well at your job. Use this time to listen to your body and respect your needs. Just make sure you aren't underworking or that you don't get in a rut of doing less work, which may damage your career.
• Focus on what is in your control. There may be a lot you can't control but focusing on the areas that you do have influence over can give you a sense of stability until the situation improves.
• Ask for an additional project that you are excited about. There may be no getting around the work you are assigned on a day-to-day basis, but if you have the capacity, you may be able to take on an additional side project that you can get excited about, which may lift you out of your funk.
• Talk with your peers. Be careful not to get "gossipy" with your colleagues, but it can be helpful to talk with other people to see if they are going through the same thing. They may be able to provide suggestions to deal with it.
• Find an activity outside of work you enjoy. If work is in a lull, and you expect things to improve over time, find your joy outside of work until work improves. Join a MeetUp group, take a class, or spend time with friends or family.
• Get some exercise. Exercise is proven to release endorphins that promote positive well-being and even counter negative mental states. This can be as simple as getting out for a walk or doing some desk stretches.
• Consider changing jobs. Usually, the negative feelings will pass, but if they don't, it may be time to consider looking for a new job (or even career) that gets you re-energized.

These are just some examples and not definitive answers. Again, I would be looking for someone who can find healthy tools to work through difficult times. Everyone's tools may be different.

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Shawna Burkey
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