Burn Out Syndrome
Without work, all life goes rotten,
But when work is soulless, life stifles and dies.
-Albert Camus
What is Burn Out Syndrome?
We often hear each other confess we are burning out. There are several professions that make us more susceptible to burnout such as nurses, police officers, military, counselors, teachers, and the helping professions in general. Burnout leads you to become cynical and hostile—sometimes to the people you were once dedicated to serving.
Symptoms include exhaustion, cynical detachment from our work, and feelings of ineffectiveness. There are many causes of burnout that such as:
- Mismanagement
- Schedule Imbalance
- Intense Work Days
- Chronic Fear of Downsizing
- Lack of Professional Projects
- Office and Inter-Agency Politics
- Lack of Appreciation
- Personal Risk
It is important to recognize the signs of burnout so that action can be taken. It is important to take time for yourself and nurture your soul. Managing time and stress is the key to preventing burn out.
Here is a link for a burnout syndrome test: http://www.docpotter.com/beajob_pot_test.html
