Work Burnout Series #4: 3 Common Misconceptions from a Massachusetts Depression Counselor
Addressing burnout at work is a pretty courageous endeavor. You’re tackling a problem head on, and probably one that was years in the making. You’ll need to do some self reflection that might be painful. And like anything that requires courage, the potential benefits can be enormous.
As a depression therapist, I see a fair amount of work burnout. Although distinct, depression and burnout on the job can hold a lot in common. I’ve written about what work burnout is, some causes of burnout at work, and what managers can do to prevent employees from burning out. As the fourth in this series on work burnout, today I want to take a moment to highlight some common misconceptions that people have about tackling burnout at work.
Work Burnout Common Misconception #1: “I just need a new job”
The first is that they think if work is making them burned out, they need to quit their job. Finding another job is one of the many possible steps you can take to address work burnout. It just isn’t the only or even the first step you should take.
It’s often not as simple as just getting a different job. You will be the same person at that new job, and similar work burnout symptoms may follow you there. In my experience as a therapist, I see people trying to shortcut the reasons for their job burnout by only quitting their job. If you do this, you might feel better for awhile, and it might be what you need! But if you’re not doing a deep dive on your own burnout, you’re missing an opportunity to understand your own patterns. It’s really common for people to come in to therapy thinking they are burned out only because of what’s going on at work. After some exploration, they discover that the work burnout is connected to so many other things.
Here’s a potentially overly-simple example, but one that echoes a number of real experiences. A person finds themself continually depleted and resentful at work. They are feeling ineffective because they are spread too thin. There is too much to do, and not enough time or resources to get it done. They think they just need a new job, where there are enough time and resources to do a quality job.
While this might be a part of what’s going on, it may not be the only thing going on. This person does a deep dive on their burnout and finds out that boundary setting is really difficult for them. Their default is to say yes to any request from a boss or colleague. This creates a feeling of resentment since it’s impossible to keep up. They also feel ineffective because many tasks are getting done with inadequate resources. With these new insights, they come to the realization that if they can say no to things that are too much, they do enjoy the work. As a result, they keep their job, and set better boundaries. Their boss and colleagues are supportive, and in fact take a lesson from this person and set better boundaries themselves.
In addition, this person also discovers that their boundaries are suffering in their personal life as well. They take a good look at that and make some changes. Overall their quality of life goes up both professionally and personally. So many wins!
Is is possible that in this scenario the person also found a new and better job? Absolutely! It could be that both are true. The employee might benefit from setting good boundaries AND the job setting might have been inconducive to accommodating those boundaries. Their boss might not have allowed it, or their colleagues might have made a fuss that the person chose not to put up with. There are an infinite number of scenarios there.
However, this fictional person who says yes to everything at work got a greater life benefit when they took the time to explore in depth the causes of their burnout at work. Good for them!
Work Burnout Common Misconception #2: “There are no viable options within my current job”
Another common mistake related to thinking that being burned out means you need to quit your job is that there are no options at your current place of employment that can be altered. Sometimes your burnout at work can be addressed by some creative thinking and a supportive supervisor. There are plenty of things that managers can do to prevent burnout. But you don’t have to be a manager or wait for your manager to do those things in order to address it for yourself. What are the tasks that are burning you out? Are there things that can be shifted? What do you want more of at work? Come up with your own proposal and bring it to your boss. See what happens. It could prevent you from needing to find another job.
Work Burnout Misconception #3: “Addressing burnout at work is a one-and-done endeavor”
Another common mistake that people make about work burnout is the assumption that once you have addressed it, you’ll never have to think about it again. Burnout is something that can show up over and over. There are so many things you can do to work through it! Having a structure to help streamline your efforts can be really helpful. You can make a burnout prevention plan and keep revisiting it regularly to stay on top of your work burnout. What you might notice over time is that your particular signs of burnout at work remain similar. That means that you can become more astute at noticing when they show up and make a shift to adjust sooner.
If you’ve gotten this far, take a moment and congratulate yourself for taking steps to get off the work burnout path! Your future self is grateful.
About the Author
In ongoing recovery from burnout, I’m a therapist who loves exploring what is at the root of work burnout.
Owner of Bronwyn Shiffer Psychotherapy, I’m based in Madison, WI and provide telehealth through Wisconsin, virtual therapy in Massachusetts, and online therapy in Washington, DC. In addition to counseling for depression, I also provide anxiety therapy and counseling for Highly Sensitive People.
Interested in getting support in tackling your own work burnout?