What Causes Burnout and Who is Likely to Develop It?
Although burnout can be exacerbated by occurrences in your personal life, it is usually related to stresses at work, such as: • Having too much work • Feeling helpless at work (e.g., things change continuously and for no apparent reason) • Not feeling recognized for the work you’re doing • Not finding the work rewarding – either personally or financially • Experiencing disharmony at work (e.g., labor issues or office politics) • Having conflicting values with your employer • Feeling intense and sustained pressure (e.g., a big project that never seems to end) Everyone is susceptible to burnout, but (in general) those who are the most at risk are those who, interestingly, make the best employees. These individuals don’t hesitate to take on additional responsibilities, have high standards and perfectionist tendencies, consistently give more than 100 percent, and are intensely driven. Not surprisingly, burnout is common among “helping” professionals and professions that involve life or dea
