Time off the job can protect against burnout

For many workers, a sufficient compensation for the job can be a protective mechanism

08/12/2013

In a well-deserved end of work to quickly take a business telephone call, take care of the official e-mails on weekends or on vacation. In short: reachable around the clock. Although this scenario is a nightmare for many workers, many still check their official emails long after work. This behavior can promote burnout

International Definition of Burnout
Burnout is in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) as „Being burned out“ and „State of total exhaustion“ described. It refers to problems and difficulties in coping with life. Anyone who exposes themselves in the long run to a mixture of free time and job feels burned out at some point. In the worst case, the affected person is threatened with burnout.

In order to counteract this, Prof. Thomas Kraus of the German Association for Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine recommends agreeing with his colleagues and supervisors. „I am reachable in a time X, in time Y the service mobile is off.“ An active leisure, which also includes sports activities, creates a balance to the stress of everyday life. „Instead of falling exhausted on the couch in the evening and reaching for the after-work beer, it would be better to play music or do some sports, says Kraus.

How do you recognize a burnout??
If working people feel that they are no longer able to perform the tasks assigned to them, or if they are less and less able to cope with the time pressure, these can be the first signs of a fatigue syndrome. Also, increased alcohol and medication consumption can be a warning sign.

Herbert J. Freudenberger, one of the best-known and first psychologists to address this issue, has identified 12 possible stages of a burnout syndrome. These are: extreme achievement striving, in order to be able to fulfill particularly high expectations overwork with neglect of personal needs and social contacts, dubbing or overcoming inner problems and conflicts, doubts on own value system as well as on formerly important things like hobbies and friends, denying arising problems, sinking of the Tolerance and contempt for others, withdrawal and avoidance of social contact to a minimum, manifest behavioral changes, progressive feelings of worthlessness, increasing anxiety and depersonalization through loss of contact with oneself and with others; Life is increasingly functional and mechanistic. Inner emptiness and desperate attempts to override these feelings through overreactions such as sexuality, eating habits, alcohol and other drugs, depression with symptoms such as indifference, hopelessness, fatigue and lack of prospects, first thoughts of suicide as a way out of this situation; acute danger of a mental and physical collapse. The order can also be different.

Employees who often feel exhausted should contact the company doctor. He is a competent contact person and can counteract with measures or even recommend a rehab stay. (Fr)

Picture: Gerd Altmann