Facing big challenges, one after the other and at the same time to be imposed additional mandates by managing conflicts and other contingencies, and perform anyway, is the lot of many workers we meet in the mornings and evenings in the subway or driving their cars, stuck in traffic jams or on one of the bridges that access most of the major cities in north America. Already they are apprehensive about the big day that awaits them.
After a few months, often these people find themselves exhausted,
And life goes on?
Will the following extra work and responsibilities fade away softly, as if nothing had happened, life goes on? Rarely. Often, the person is engaged on the road that leads directly to a professional exhaustion. Indeed some might end up with a diagnosis of a burn-out (professional exhaustion), as often called in the medical environment: Difficulty coping. The person is rather the victim of an attempt of over-adaptation trying to accomplish an "impossible mission". Inevitably a state of inability to work will follow. Because the early signs were not taken seriously, That person will have to quit the work force, a burn-out diagnosis sometimes and more than often, leaves sequels that continue for a long period of time and sometimes will never disappear completely
The yellow light
Can we prevent the worst, avoid a burnout bad consequences that follows it? Last year or the previous months really got into you and almost have thrown you on the ground. Here, the term "almost" becomes important, because that is the step in question, at the exact time when you still have the power to avoid the worst, while its still possible to act so as not cross the yellow line. Of course, we will say: "You had to take less on your shoulders, clarify your limits, say no more frequently, distance yourself, do not try to be an eternal savior and be a bit less responsible." Yes, but we are not in his shoes. It's now time to avoid the worst, a burn-out. Now let see what's is really happening to a manager right in the heat of the action.
The really fed-up Peter
For two years, Peter, a 42 years old project manager, had to cross through three major restructurations. He also has to manage the staff, including one employee who is showing behavioral problems. Plus in addition he has to face daily conflicts, because the tasks of every employee is too heavy for everyone. He has to coordinate everything and also has to force all his employees to swallow the "overworked" pill, while ensuring that the work is impeccable and always accomplished within the allowed time limits. Peter's boss is quite conscious of the situation. But for her the essential is only the completion of as many projects as possible. She realize the extremely high workload, but for her the human factor does not seem very important, all that matters is that all projects are successful and completed on time. So there is no question of a break and of admitting that there is enough projects to hire some extra help. A new mandate does not wait for another and Peter begins to show worrisome signs. Who will take cares of him?
The warning signs
Peter has trouble getting to sleep for many weeks, he feels anxiety when thinking about his work in the evening. Weekends and Sundays, the only idea of returning to work the next day triggered a strong anxiety. At work, he sees himself killing time, turns in circles, almost go into hiding to waist time, stretch his lunch hour or navigate the internet. Suddenly, he is indifferent to the expectations of his boss. Something he never did before. Peter feels a strong need to distance himself from work. He knows what he needs is rest, do something else at his own rhythm, sleeping, reading, walking, breathing the fresh air to refuel his lack of energy. Financially, he says that he can afford to quit, which is not the reality at all. He says he no longer has to lower himself to the point of working for that person or company anymore. But the truth is for him, it is a defeat and a shame. He says he already feels guilty, he will not know how to tell his family and his friends. Moreover, he fears not knowing what to do with all this time he now have. He sees a void that is unknown to him. He is confused, even though he recognizes that he is exhausted.
Rest and culpability
Peter is not alone in his reaction. Treating yourself to a period of rest often causes guilt and shame. We did everything to sell you a 55-year retirement and leisure way of life for the year 2000. How is it somehow that stopping along the way for a short amount of time is such a humiliation? Finally, the reality is quite different. We live in a society that values working goals and achievements above all, in denying that too often behind the work and goals achieved, there are people with a different body, heart, emotions and therefore, limits. Sadly, the worker himself is complicit in keeping this culture alive and looking at exhaustion as a shame and not a normal physical and psychological limit. Accordingly, no question of recognizing or admitting that one is exhausted, that he went beyond his confines limits, he should have listen more, say no more often, and delegate more. We should not say this because it is to confess that we are a sub-human. Like if we need to be a superhuman instead of being humble and admit that we are just simple human beings.
How to prevent a burn-out
It should be noted in today's world, a good dose of self-esteem, personal autonomy and emotional independence (pleased others) to say without shame: I am exhausted or tired, I need to stop and rest for a month or all summer, why not? Yet the person who has that spontaneity, that listen, and respect his needs and has those detached views causes jalousie instead of admiration among most of his peers which is unfortunate! But what is most important is to avoid professional exhaustion. Evidently, it is not possible for everyone to stop for one or three months, despite an extreme fatigue. When you are confronted by those warning signs (such as the famous yellow light): fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feeling demotivate, have sleeping problems and feelings like killing time, you must find an alternative to rest and regain your vitality. Actions like missing work three days a week, unhesitatingly taking your accumulated sick leaves, rest up well at night and on weekends, will be effective. It may be interesting also to receive massages at a spa, reading in a park and especially not to undertake any work or make major changes in your personal life. And if you're afraid of the vacuum faced during a period of rest, you make a tasks list of pleasant lightweight activities to do at your own rhythm and when you feel like it. You should not be shy or ashamed to say Say: (I worked very hard and I'm tired). It is your responsibility to love yourself enough to listen to your body, to respect yourself and to discover what you need to regain your energies. Enjoy and take advantage of the summer to refill up your lost energies.
