Stress management
and burnout
prevention

We all know that no job or workplace is stress-free. It’s part of working life, and there are pressures in every job. It’s not always a bad thing.

“In fact, there is a sweet spot in the way we perceive the level of challenge we’re undergoing at work and when the challenge is matched by an equal balance of resources to manage those job challenges this can see us engaged and motivated in our jobs.”

– David Miller, Head of Consulting & Growth, Communicorp

And having a job we are happy in and motivated to perform is good for mental health. It can give you a sense of purpose, connect you with others and, importantly, give you an income.

Unfortunately, we’ve all likely experienced times when our work demands become far greater than the emotional and physical resources we can draw on.

This stress not only affects the health and wellbeing of the person, but it can also have a huge impact on the productivity of an organisation.

In fact, according to the Victoria Government’s Better Health, service work-related stress is the second most common compensated illness/injury in Australia, after musculoskeletal disorders, and is the reason for the longest periods of absenteeism.

“For Australian workplaces, there is now a different expectation on providing their workforces with an environment that minimises psychological harm to their people.

Leaders are now legally obligated to identify and address work factors that can contribute to psychological distress and injury.” says David.

What stress looks like

Everyone is different, and something one person finds challenging can be stressful for another.

It all depends on individual’s capability, a person’s psychological makeup, and other factors like general health and wellbeing in life outside of work.

Signs of stress can be different for everyone, too.

It can show up in a variety of ways – like a physiological response via panic attacks, feeling constantly tense or on edge, struggling to sleep or eat properly, or getting upset or angry more easily than usual.

People can be experiencing more headaches popping up more often, feeling constantly tired, or smoking or drinking more than usual.

Stress can also impact people’s behaviours at work.

They may start showing up late to work a lot or stay home more than usual.

Some people will actively avoid meetings or social events with co-workers.

They’re finding it hard to concentrate or stay focused, and even completing their work might feel overwhelming to them.

Often, this can be seen as people disconnecting from others and self-isolation if the stress response is severe.

For some, it can lead to burnout when things are left unchecked.

Burnout is different from stress

According to the World Health Organization, burnout is a result of workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.

It’s a combination of feeling depleted of energy or exhausted, feeling negative about or less connected to the work or job, and feeling like you’re not performing as well as you should.

It’s important to know that burnout and stress aren’t the same.

You can’t fix burnout simply by taking a good holiday or working less.

A person experiencing stress is still struggling to manage pressures.

Burnout, on the other hand, is when they’ve completely run out of energy. They are depleted and have immense difficulty overcoming challenges.

Burnout goes deeper than being tired.

People can feel deep disillusionment and hopelessness and that their efforts haven’t made any difference and even simple tasks seem almost impossible.

They can lose interest in the things they once cared about, and any motivation goes.

Even the smallest obligations feel hard to meet.

It’s not just the job.

A person’s individual life factors and their ability to access resources to manage prolonged periods of stress will impact their risk of burnout.

Other things, like previous work experiences and life events, can also affect the risk of burnout.

So, while two people may face similar issues at work, one might have burnout while the other doesn’t.

Our ability to manage our mental health and wellbeing at work is influenced.

How to help overcome burnout

It goes without saying that job burnout can seriously affect someone’s health and wellbeing.

But you can help someone suffering from job burnout by recognising it and taking steps to support them.

Often, our co-workers and team members will undergo a change in behaviour that will indicate that they may be impacted and need support.

For example, job burnout in a co-worker may look like some of the following:

• Shifts in their mood or attitude via increased irritability or negativity: They may express cynical or critical views about their work or colleagues.
• Decreased productivity: A noticeable decline in their work performance or missing deadlines.
• Physical impairment and symptoms: They complain of headaches, fatigue, or changes in sleep patterns.
• Withdrawal from work activities: You notice they are avoiding social interactions, meetings, or collaborative projects they associate with the burnout.
• Lack of motivation: They show disinterest in tasks they previously found engaging.
• Increased absenteeism: There are frequent unexplained absences or arriving late and leaving early.
• Cognitive performance and difficulty concentrating: They are struggling to focus on tasks or making mistakes more often.

“When we think someone might be experiencing duress it’s the small things that can matter. You don’t need to be a mental health professional to help. A simple check-in with your co-worker or team member can play a big part in helping them put their hand up and ask for help” David said

Recognising and addressing burnout is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive work environment.

Need support?

Contact us one Call us 24/7, 365 days a year, on 1800 808 374 (AUS) or 0800 808 374 (NZ) or start a confidential chat with a clinician on Wellbeing Gateway.

If you require counselling, coaching or support, our clinicians are available to help.

Call, chat or request an appointment online.

Sources we found helpful in writing this article

• Work-related stress – Health Direct
• Burnout – Mayo Clinic
• Burnout – Beyond Blue

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