Staying healthy (23)
- Cosmetic surgery: What to know beforehand
- Vaccines for adults: Which do you need?
- Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk
- see all in Staying healthy
Dental care (7)
- Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics
- Oral health: A window to your overall health
- Calcium and calcium supplements: Achieving the right balance
- see all in Dental care
Skin care (17)
- Sunless tanning: A safe alternative to sunbathing
- Best sunscreen: Understand sunscreen options
- Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin
- see all in Skin care
Nail care (1)
- Fingernails: Do's and don'ts for healthy nails
Eye care (9)
- Eye injury: Tips to protect vision
- Contact lenses: What to know before you buy
- LASIK eye surgery
- see all in Eye care
Sleep (7)
- Sleep aids: Understand over-the-counter options
- Napping: Do's and don'ts for healthy adults
- Sleep tips: 7 steps to better sleep
- see all in Sleep
Mental health (11)
- Empty nest syndrome: Tips for coping
- Self-esteem: 4 steps to feel better about yourself
- Self-esteem check: Too low, too high or just right?
- see all in Mental health
Healthy relationships (9)
- Domestic violence against men: Know the signs
- Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help
- Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness
- see all in Healthy relationships
Healthy at work (12)
- Travel workout: Fitness tips for business travelers
- Workplace exercises: How to burn calories at work
- Desk stretches: How-to video collection
- see all in Healthy at work
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Job burnout: How to spot it and take action
Who's at risk of job burnout?
You may be more likely to experience job burnout if:
- You identify so strongly with work that you lack a reasonable balance between your work life and your personal life
- You try to be everything to everyone
- You work in a helping profession, such as health care, counseling or teaching
- You feel you have little or no control over your work
- Your job is monotonous
What are the consequences of job burnout?
Ignored or unaddressed job burnout can have significant consequences, including:
- Excessive stress
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- A negative spillover into personal relationships or home life
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes, especially in women
- Stroke
- Obesity
- Vulnerability to illnesses
Remember, if you think you may be experiencing job burnout, don't ignore your symptoms. Consult your doctor or a mental health provider to identify or rule out any underlying health conditions.
What's the best way to handle job burnout?
If you're concerned about job burnout, take action. To get started:
- Manage the stressors that contribute to job burnout. Once you've identified what's fueling your feelings of job burnout, you can make a plan to address the issues.
- Evaluate your options. Discuss specific concerns with your supervisor. Perhaps you can work together to change expectations or reach compromises or solutions. Is job sharing an option? What about telecommuting or flexing your time? Would it help to establish a mentoring relationship? What are the options for continuing education or professional development?
- Adjust your attitude. If you've become cynical at work, consider ways to improve your outlook. Rediscover enjoyable aspects of your work. Recognize co-workers for valuable contributions or a job well done. Take short breaks throughout the day. Spend time away from work doing things you enjoy.
- Seek support. Whether you reach out to co-workers, friends, loved ones or others, support and collaboration may help you cope with job stress and feelings of burnout. If you have access to an employee assistance program (EAP), take advantage of the available services.
- Assess your interests, skills and passions. An honest assessment can help you decide whether you should consider an alternative job, such as one that's less demanding or one that better matches your interests or core values.
- Get some exercise. Regular physical activity, like walking or biking, can help you to better deal with stress. It can also help get your mind off work and focus on something else.
The bottom line? Keep an open mind as you consider the options. Don't let a demanding or unrewarding job undermine your health.
Previous page(2 of 2)
References
- Swider BW, et al. Born to burnout: A meta-analytic path model of personality, job burnout, and work outcomes. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 2010;76:487.
- Vallerand RJ, et al. On the role of passion for work in burnout: A process model. Journal of Personality. 2010;78:289.
- Garrosa E, et al. The relationship between job stressors, hardy personality, coping resources and burnout in a sample of nurses: A correlational study at two time points. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2010;47:205.
- Steele A. Flying with the Phoenixes: Avoiding job burnout as a librarian and a manager. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children. 2009;7:51.
- Schwartz T. Manage your energy, not your time. Harvard Business Review. 2007;85:63.
- Shirom A. Burnout and health: Expanding our knowledge. Stress and Health. 2009;25:281.
- Molella RG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 7, 2012.
- Couser GP. Challenges and opportunities for preventing depression in the workplace: A review of the evidence supporting workplace factors and interventions. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2008;50:411.
- Nakata A. Psychosocial job stress and immunity: A systematic review. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2012;934:42.
- Hammig O, et al. Effort-reward and work-life imbalance, general stress and burnout among employees of a large public hospital in Switzerland. Swiss Medical Weekly. 2012;142:w13577.
- Kivimaki M, et al. Job strain as a risk factor for coronary heart disease: A collaborative meta-analysis of individual participant data. The Lancet. 2012 Sept 13. pii: S0140-6736(12)60994-5. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60997.
- Kitaoka-Higashiguchi K, et al. Burnout and risk factors for arteriosclerotic disease: Follow-up study. Journal of Occupational Health. 2009;51:127.
- Nevanpera JN, et al. Occupational burnout, eating behavior, and weight among working women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2012;95:934.
- Tsutsumi A, et al. Impact of occupational stress on stroke across occupational classes and genders. Social Science and Medicine. 2011;72:1654.
- Toker S, et al. Job burnout and depression: Unraveling their temporal relationship and considering the role of physical activity. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2012;97:704.
Find Mayo Clinic on