burnout

The average workday for full-time employed Americans has exceeded the standard eight hours, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics research. And individuals holding down multiple jobs are working close to nine hours a day, typically. Fatigue and stress combine to result in burnout. While long work hours contribute, says Inc magazine, excess repetition, insufficient compensation, little room for upward mobility and no camaraderie with peers are also factors. The experience negatively affects not only job performance but health and relationships. Inc’s tips for thwarting burnout are: 1. Use vacation days. Around 40 percent of vacation days are wasted for a number of reasons; primarily, workers feel that they cannot “afford” time off due to the high demands of their jobs. 2. Ch...

I’m not a good friend anymore. I am burned out and have little emotional energy left to cultivate the community I’m told I’m supposed to lean on for support. I am writing this three years into my role as executive director of Power Shift Network, a climate justice organization, and parenting a toddler, during what we now just call “these unprecedented times.” This is not a unique experience, especially for Black organizers and leaders. But it feels distinct now that it’s happening to me. What is actually a widespread, sector-wide problem has been pushed behind closed doors and turned into a private problem for individuals to solve using their personal resources. The truth is, burnout among Black activists and the organizational refusal to address it has serious implications for who remain...

Tag: burnout

Dealing With Job Burnout, Before It Becomes A Problem