How to Conquer Burnout at Work

  • Author: Ryan Estis
  • Minnesota, USA
Read the news article

If you’ve been having trouble concentrating recently, you’re not alone and here is an article on How to Conquer Burnout at Work.

A recent survey conducted by FlexJobs and Mental Health America found that 75% of people have had work-related burnout, with 40% feeling burned out during the pandemic. And according to a July MetLife report on the U.S. workforces’ mental health, two-thirds of employers predict a national mental health crisis within three years.

We’re working three hours longer per day during the pandemic. It’s no surprise that more people are feeling anxious, overwhelmed and exhausted.

But we’re not just tired of working from home. We’re tired of everything. The boundaries between our personal and professional lives have dissolved. No one knows how long this pandemic will last, and those with additional responsibilities — such as parents and those living in at-risk households — continue to navigate an enormous amount of stress. All of us are at risk of burning out, but it’s not inevitable.

How to Conquer Burnout at Work

Look for these signs of burnout at work — and make sure you’re proactively managing your time and energy to be the best you can be for your family, your clients, and your coworkers.

What Is Burnout — And Do You Have It?
The World Health Organization lists burnout in its International Classification of Diseases as an “occupational phenomenon.” The WHO provides three criteria for diagnosing burnout:

Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
Reduced professional efficacy.
One of the most challenging things about burnout is that it can be difficult to tell when you have it. It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of negativity and anxiety, especially during this moment. And once we become accustomed to feeling this way, it can seem normal. It certainly did for me.

So, carefully consider how you are feeling. Are you irritable? Do you dread beginning the workday? Ask yourself these questions, as well as many of the others that the Mayo Clinic recommends.

The Steps I’ve Taken to Conquer Burnout
This past March, I was experiencing my own mental health challenges. I was working around the clock trying to reinvent our business. I was overwhelmed. I was hardly sleeping, and I felt a deep sense of anxiety and despair at the onset of the pandemic.

I knew I was struggling and needed to get back on track. So, I made a conscious choice to get support and to assign a whole new meaning to this moment in time. It is important to remember that, no matter how difficult this moment may be, that you do get to decide how you approach it.

Conquer Burnout at Work
So I re-oriented my work routine to focus on avoiding burnout. These are a few of the things that have helped me stay sane and bring some balance back into my life:

Designate a place to work from home. My laptop stays in my home office. If I have to work, I work in the office. While I don’t have a commute, having a physically separate space helps me maintain a boundary between the personal and the professional.
Take regular breaks. I work in 50-minute blocks. Then, I take 10-minute breaks. I use that time to walk around, stretch, make coffee, and let my mind have a bit of white space. It’s proven to boost your creativity and mood, and it helps you physically as well.
Find safe opportunities for in-person human interaction. Though we mostly work remotely, the team occasionally meets at our office or for lunch — while maintaining strict safety protocols. These moments help solidify our sense of connection and teamwork, and we also find it easier to make headway on our projects when working face to face.
Self-care and self-love go a long way. Not every day is going to be good. You’re going to have more bad days than you’re used to. But be gentle on yourself. It’s something we all need to do — so that we can keep making it through this. Remember, love always wins.
Exercise. I’ve always prioritized physical activity, but my health and wellness have taken on a whole new level of importance to me during this pandemic. There is simply no better medicine for stress management and a healthy immune system than a good workout! I continue to see my personal trainer six days a week, and I’ve also been incorporating a whole new set of measurement, management, and recovery protocols into my wellness.

We’re All in This Together
If you need help, reach out to a friend, a coach, or a therapist. It’s helped me immensely, and I know it’s helped others, too.

But addressing burnout is not just an individual responsibility. It’s also about leadership. As leaders, it’s incumbent upon us to act with empathy. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Jennifer Moss breaks empathy down this way: “That requires stepping outside of your own needs, assessing and removing bias and privilege, actively listening to your people, and then taking action.” Take the time to look at your employees’ workloads. If you can offer a safe hybrid work plan, then do so. But as Jennifer and the leaders she interviews emphasize, listen to your people — and meet them where they are, just as you would your customers.

Additionally, be sure that you are encouraging your employees to take breaks. Many may feel guilty about doing so; at this moment, work can be a lot harder at times. But we need that mental break. Stephen Tang, CEO of Orasure Technologies, is leading his team as they create new COVID-19 tests. Even though his team is helping us through a global pandemic, he’s made sure to emphasize to his team the importance of taking breaks. “Part of my message to my employees is to remember that the root of the word ‘recreation’ is ‘recreate,’” he says, “and that the root of the word ‘vacation’ is ‘vacate.’”

And finally, if you want to bring a bit more awareness and support to your team, I invite you to check out our new Virtual Wellness Series. It’s a series of four live, interactive webinars addressing peak performance, emotional resilience, mindfulness, physical wellness and nutrition.

Article written by: Ryan Estis

Contact us at Speakers Inc and view WeSpeak Global

Speaker Listing

Further articles you may enjoy:

  • (13)

I’ve often wished there were a remote control for real life that let you fast forward through the unpleasant parts and pause on the good stuff for one tech-free day. There’s not, but there is a practice that will put you back in control of your time. To explain, I need to hit rewind. Ten […]

  • December 20, 2022
  • (18)

Beyond Limits: How Adaptive Sports Redefine Resilience and Inspire Audiences When it comes to keynote speakers who genuinely move the needle in terms of motivation, resilience, and transformation, few voices are more powerful than those emerging from the world of adaptive sports. These athletes don’t just overcome obstacles—they reinvent the playing field. And in doing […]

  • April 9, 2025
  • (15)

The Virtual Keynote Revolution: How Online Events Are Reshaping the Speaking Industry The Shift from In-Person to Virtual Keynote Events The global events landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Once defined by large hotel ballrooms, conference centers, and meticulously coordinated travel arrangements, the speaking industry is now embracing an era where the stage is any […]

  • December 13, 2024
  • (14)

Unleashing Inspiration: San Diego’s motivational speakers Transforming Conferences Across California Introduction: In the vibrant landscape of California, where innovation meets ambition, San Diego stands out as a hub of motivation and inspiration. The city is home to a cadre of exceptional motivational speakers, individuals who possess the power to ignite change, foster growth, and propel […]

  • February 23, 2024
  • (7)

The The Character Ethic 2 vs. The Personality Ethic – Why Character Trumps Personality As Stephen Covey writes in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, most of the success literature published in the United States for the first century and a half after 1776 focused on The Character Ethic as being the underlying foundation of how a person can live […]

  • January 24, 2023
  • (23)

I have worked with corporate teams that measure Leadership Effectiveness and what seems like everything. My concern with these teams isn’t what they are measuring, but rather what they are not measuring – leadership effectiveness. Teams measure on-time delivery, sales call per day, employee engagement, and so many more useful metrics. I’ve even seen a […]

  • December 22, 2022
  • (24)

Looking to motivate a group of employees, students, or even donors? Speakers Inc has a wide selection of New York Motivational Speakers that you can book for any event: business functions, school assemblies, graduations, charitable fundraisers, and more. Find one in New York today! New York City is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the […]

  • December 20, 2022
  • (9)

How to Find Keynote Speakers can be the difference between a good event and a memorable one. Whether you’re a meeting planner or a corporate booker, securing the right speaker is crucial for engaging your audience, delivering a powerful message, and ensuring your event’s success. The process, however, can seem overwhelming due to the vast […]

  • August 19, 2024

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel