Preventing Workplace Burnout at the Beginning of Your Career
Starting your new career has a lot of emotional layers, doesn’t it? You’re excited and relieved about finally landing a job in your field after finishing school. Maybe you’re anticipating the new changes in your daily routine and nervous about connecting with colleagues. Or possibly feeling motivated and inspired to plan out your career path (woo!).
While burnout is NOT an inevitable part of the workplace, it can be common. And I think it’s especially important for young people who are starting their careers to be aware of what the early signs of burnout can be. This way they can increase self-awareness, set boundaries, and stay healthy.
So, what are some of the early signs of work burnout to watch out for?
Increased negativity/becoming cynical at the workplace: This doesn’t mean that you have to be a beacon of positivity all the time (that sounds exhausting). Although, it’s important to notice if you’ve become increasingly negative about day-to-day situations at work. If you’re finding it challenging to find any positive aspect of your job, it may be time to explore work stress and burnout therapy in Toronto, ON.
Extreme exhaustion/fatigue: We all experience low energy sometimes, but when it comes to burnout, we’re talking about consistent fatigue. Even after you’ve gotten adequate rest or recovery, you still feel exhausted.
Lack of motivation: Finding it hard to start or complete tasks that you used to find rewarding. Maybe you start to procrastinate and see a decline in your overall job performance.
Little time for life outside of work: Your regular downtime and self-care activities are seriously lacking. You feel like you don’t have time for the gym, balanced eating, or social activities.
Increased reliance on “less helpful” or problematic coping strategies: You might notice increased use of drugs or alcohol to help you cope with chronic stress, low energy, and feelings of disconnection.
If you or anyone you know are feeling these signs of burnout, please reach out. Our burnout therapist offers stress management counselling at your convenience. You don’t have to take on all of the stress alone, let MK Counselling and Psychotherapy help!
What steps you can take early on to prevent workplace burnout:
Prioritize your non-negotiables: Make a list of your self-care needs that you cannot neglect. Maybe that means paying close attention to your gym schedule or emphasizing quality time with your partner/family.
Set time boundaries: Decide what time your work day reasonably ends and stick to it. An idea is to set an alarm as a reminder to shut down your computer and leave your workspace.
Stop checking your email: Additionally, just because we have access to email on our phone, doesn’t mean we have to check it after work hours. We often have the assumption that checking an email isn’t a huge stressor, but simply by opening the app, you are telling your brain that you’re still working. Almost like it needs to stay in “work mode”. This can make our brain feel like it’s working a 16-hour day instead of an 8-hour day.
Schedule working tasks and break time: For people in a corporate setting, use your work calendar to your advantage. Book in time to work on your most important tasks, and similarly, book in your breaks. This can avoid being overscheduled for meetings.
Separate from your workspace at home: If you’re working from home, I can’t stress enough to distance yourself from your workspace as much as possible after-hours. If you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated room for work, close the door and try not to go back in until your next shift. If you have a multi-use space, try putting away any signs of work, i.e. Notebooks, laptops, resources, etc.
Stay in touch with your doctor or therapist: Be sure to discuss any early signs or symptoms of chronic stress and burnout. By speaking to a professional, it can help you stay accountable for your self-care and develop a treatment plan as needed.
Begin stress and work burnout therapy in Toronto, ON today!
Work is always going to have some elements of stress, but when it starts to become unmotivating, energy-draining, and impacting our overall health, it’s time to re-evaluate how we want to manage workplace stress. Fortunately, MK Counselling and Psychotherapy offer just what you need! If you’re ready to begin workplace burnout therapy in Toronto, ON then follow these simple steps!
Schedule a consultation here so I can get to know you better.
Start burnout therapy with our stress management therapist.
Go through life without the weight of stress constantly on your shoulders!
Other services I offer in Toronto, ON, and surrounding areas
At Michelle Kent, Counseling and Psychotherapy, my mission is to provide a diverse range of services that cater to your unique needs. I understand the demands of work life and am committed to helping you navigate and conquer stress. In addition to therapy for stress management in Toronto, ON, I specialize in first responder counseling, young caregiver stress, grief, and more.
