Burnout is the physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. You may recognize it as that overwhelming feeling to call in sick because you physically cannot get out of bed. If you have never felt this way before and you are inspired by your job, then hold on to that position. 30 percent of employed adults feel they are "always under stress at work," and ½ feel their stress has increased over the past five years. And the effects of stress and burnout are dramatic. Forty-eight percent of American report lying awake at night due to stress.
My organization's team takes a particular interest in burnout because we are composed almost entirely of mental health professionals. When helping professionals experience burnout, their performance can suffer -- which is a scary thought when you consider their responsibilities. Additionally, the field of Applied Behavior Analysis is known for its turnover due to burnout - an issue we are trying to address. Shouldn't the people taking care of other humans be taken care of by their organization?
In the book Behavior Analysis and Treatment, authors Ron Van Houten and Saul Axelrod explain in the field of Behavior Analysis, staff absenteeism and turnover can be the "single most disruptive factor in providing stable services;" Yet turnover remains "a chronic and widespread problem in most settings." They suggest, to reduce turnover, that agencies not only increase salaries but also implement "social reinforcers that increase work satisfaction, performance, and stability."
While research is continually done on the best ways to reduce burnout in each industry, we do know this: burnout has a dramatic effect on the body, mind, and even on our performance at work.
Learn more about the causes and effects of burnout from this infographic created by Autism Family Center:
