Comments on: Dealing With Professional Burnout Without Quitting Your Job

By: senga

senga — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:21:56 +0000

I thought I was alone in this painful mess of hating the job I once loved so much. I dislike vacation because of everything that piles on my desk while I am away. I do not know how to rest since I am thinking about work. I am a trouble at home, scatter brain at work and as an executive cry in the pillow at night since there is no way I can be caught up even if I put 25 hrs a day into my job. I tried Dave Allen Getting Things Done, prioritizing, closing doors, time blocking etc, nothing work and the piles are getting bigger and the emails just pop up every minute. The “world” sees me as a successful role model for women, young grandmother “who has it all”.
Where do I start ?

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:40:40 +0000

Life sucks; the myth that you can eventually find ‘what you love doing’ is just that…a myth. People don’t hesitate to blame the success of models, movie stars etc on their good looks, emphasizing that they won the genetic lottery. But other factors count as part of that hellish lottery too, which people like Trent have a tendency not to acknowledge. Diligence is a trait that is inherited; intelligence, sociability, ability to work in a team, even creativity: these are all just as inherited as looks and athletic ability.

Hard work can improve your lot, but not by much unless you have uncommon luck.

Life is bad, hard. I like this blog because it helps me save some money here and there. But the truth of the matter is that I feel like a slave, and my abilities don’t allow me to escape the treadmill. With a family, and no real talents, I am stuck where I am. A slave, eeking out a living doing something I hate, working with people I simply can’t stand. They make me shake with their anger, their ambition, their hatred and superficiality. They might like me (I do a good job of faking my dissatisfaction with life), but I don’t like them. And that, like it or lump it, is life.

Then sometimes I watch the news and see 10 year old kids buried by the THOUSAND in an earthquake, their horrified mothers yelling their names as if they could hear (but they can’t… they’re crushed, lifeless, braindead)

You can look on the bright side of life, but if you have integrity you must at least acknowledge that it’s just a ‘Jedi mind trick’. Life is hell.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:06:21 +0000

Great article, Trent. This is a subject I can really relate to. I struggled really hard with total burnout last summer, and didn’t listen to the signs until it was too late. Basically, I worked 16-20 hour days for four months straight (no days off) for a huge project. My three bosses basically kept telling me everything I did sucked and there was a lot of redoing things, backstabbing, backhanded crap, and ugly office politics. This was supposed to be my “big break;” I had finally made it. One day I showed up at work – and just started to cry. I had to go to a meeting right away, and tried everything to stop crying, but nothing would stop it. Then I just sorta…snapped, I guess. I ran from the building, jumped in my car, and started to drive. Didn’t care where I was going, I was just going to go…away. I drove for an hour before I calmed down enough to realize I didn’t want to leave my husband, I didn’t want to leave my life – just my job. So I came back and saw my doctor and he put me on stress leave, saying I was as close to a nervous breakdown as you could get. I was just looking for a couple of days off, but he put me off for a month and gave me some “happy pills.” I was still crying the rest of the day, and the week following. And my three bosses all called me and I had the shock of my life – they all told me what a great job I was doing and that they really needed me. I finally realized it wasn’t worth it, even if this job was what I had worked towards for years. Almost a year later, I still find myself to be suffering some the effects of this – digestive problems, cry too easily (before this, I hardly ever used to cry at all), stress out too easily. I suddenly have a lot of grey hair, and I’m only 28! I also struggle a lot with feeling like a big failure because of this, even if quitting was the smartest thing I ever did. Needless to say, I learned this lesson the hard way, and really wish I had listened to advice like this before it was too late. I’m now working at a less “prestigious” and lower paying job. I’m so much happier, it’s ridiculous. Still have a ways to heal, but I feel so much better, and hope to never get sucked into that crappy rat race life ever again. Learning to be more frugal was a big help; you really don’t need the big salary if you don’t own a bunch of crap with monthly payments attached.

By: tony

tony — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:05:23 +0000

I can completely relate with the last comment. I too spent many years in the IT field and I am totally burnt out. Taking vacations just increases the workload and anxiety when I return and I get more depressed. Plus there are times where I have to call in when I am on vacation.

I knew I hate my job for years, but it pays very good. I am now at the point I cant take it any more..the long hours, sleepless nights, the mental exhaustion, the workload is overwhelming. I am strongly considering cutting the cord. It is a tough decision, but there’s more to life than being stress and burned out all the time. I am seriously considering starting my own business in a different field. I know the economy is slow right, but I don’t know what else to do.

By: dukester

dukester — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:03:09 +0000

i have to disagree with the premise of this article entirely. i used to believe that when i was burned out, a vacation would be the remedy. i would take a vacation and have a great time, but when i returned i would be hating my job so much more, and getting more depressed because i was still there and it was xxx long till next vacation. this convinced me that vacations are only good if you enjoy your job already, otherwise you’ll return to a job you still hate, and the vacation just magnifies that.

i’ve been in IT for 15 years and have loathed every job and almost every day. i have been looking for that other “thing” to do but don’t know what it is, and the almighty $ is holding me back from leaving my job. i agree you only live once, but i don’t want to be standing in the line for free cheese either. i don’t know what the answer is; i think my wife is ready to kill me from hearing this so much so maybe i won’t have to worry about it much longer! :-o

By: droid

droid — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:32:22 +0000

my job is causing musculoskeletal stress. i am seeking a a medical dispensation from work. i like my what i do, just dont like who i do it for or why i am doing it for them. forced unpaid overtime was the last straw. the workplace culture hides the frAudulent results that the work is based upon. vicious toxic cycle

By: laura

laura — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:01:47 +0000

I was highly thinking about quitting my job after just a few months and then I got fired. I wasn’t surprised at all. I was so unhappy with my boss and I told someone about it and bam the axe went down fairly fast after that. I thought it may help but it was not the case. I feel sad but then again I also feel relieved. What really sucks is that I went to school for this job ( to be a paralegal) and it was my first job out there. A part of me wonders if I can handle it or not and another part of me is just wondering how long its going to take to get a job now with so little experience. This is kind of scary, but overall I feel I did the best thing i could have done.

By: black puma

black puma — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:01:34 +0000

The listed suggestions sound good, but once you are burnt out they are in no use. I am on sick leave since a few months due to the job burnout and stayed in bed almost whole day for about 2 months because of severe exhaustion. Burnout kills your confidence and can be accompanied by feeling quilty. I only started to feel OK recently. I started to think back (I feel stressed just by thinking about how I felt) and identified the reason that led me to this situation. It was because of the value conflit between the management and I. So, I know what to do now.

By: Ldee

Ldee — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:54:07 +0000

I am leaving a position that most people build their resumes from college on in hopes to attain a sales position like this. This job offers the potential to make 500k. I beat out hundreds of applicants and have been here for 2 years. I love sales and want to stay in the industry, but want to take a step back. I am no longer interested in sacrificing my family, my hobbies, my peace of mind for a job. The money is no longer a priority. How can i explain this to future employers without sounding unmotivated? I really want some balance.

By: corey

corey — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:34:09 +0000

I work at Charter Communications. Its a call center in Louisville, Ky. The only thing I have been able to do to prevent myself from quiting is taking a vacation. I got away for about 9 days around Christmas this past year, which was good…but it didnt quite cut it. The job is simple, taking calls surfing the net troubleshooting internet connections…no big deal right…WRONG. Charter Communications is a fucking hell hole of a service provider…the BBB calls here to warn us our call volumes are to high…which is true…we are always in que…for repair…not just for general questions. They were doing maintainance on email and they lost 50,000 emails that customers will never get back. Entire states go down and are without internet for sometimes 2 days. Some people are so insanely irate…one lady wanted a supervisor right off the bat i didnt even say my name yet…i asked her for her phone number and she told me it was “hell” i just cant deal with people calling in cursing me out for shit that i didnt do…yes i work for this company but Charter doesnt provide service in the state i live in so its hard for me to care. it is a drain on my life. i leave here to go home and im already dreading the next day. it really does drain me…i want to quit but cant find anything with a decent pay

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:37:23 +0000

Take vacation? My employer penalizes my monthly proficiency report if I even take a sick day off! A letter from the doctor makes no difference. Yes, you read it right. The company I work for punishes its employees for using the medical benefits that come with the job. And it gives the inhuman department heads and managers’ a real kick to get to do it, too. It’s no wonder that employees in the United States “go postal” and rampage at their jobs. In the eyes of management, employees are just units-of-work, resources to be used then discarded, not human beings. Ask this question: Would you want your children to work where you do?

By: Siva

Siva — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:16:41 +0000

Those are really worthable tips.
But consider the point.

Hand off the BURDENS
some one should be there to share your burdens. if not ?

Take Vacation as soon as possible.
if you are called by your mgr. during your vacation ?

Any idea’s
Thx.

By: Steve Williamson

Steve Williamson — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:39:18 +0000

I’m on day one of my much needed vacation right now. Top tips! Thanks for this. Steve.

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:05:23 +0000

What a great article. The last comment by FM in SA talks about a break after two years straight… I am in a very similar position myself. Just finished a huge project. I think what you have written here is very important… especially the last paragraph. Good stuff.

By: carl

carl — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:50:26 +0000

Megan, those jobs where you literally have nothing to do are the MOST soul destroying. Several times I’ve wondered if “there was another internet” I could read after exhausting the current one. Nice article generally, it’s helpful to take a break and get some perspective on things. I’ve been doing the same basic job for 20 years now (programming) and I’ve gone beyond burn out into somewhere bad. I’ve had 3 trial periods this year alone and I’ve stopped every one of them :( The MBA and running your own business thing is great advice.

By: FM IN SA

FM IN SA — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:44:50 +0000

perfect timing – burnout after two years of no vacation and I think its time to take a break start applying some of these useful tips and see if there is any hope for me! because it might be time for me to move on…

thanks trent

By: Jim Lippard

Jim Lippard — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:22:11 +0000

When I take travel vacations, I like to have at *least* one day of vacation after returning home to recharge from the vacation and travel.

I like Jamie’s suggestion, a lot–I find that towards the end of my vacations I feel my stress level start to rise from thinking about accumulating email at the office.

By: burnt out

burnt out — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 06:57:25 +0000

I really like your suggestions. BUT, What happens if you are burnt out already, and you can’t take a vacation or follow through with many of the other suggestions? I am a teacher, and we don’t get a break until Christmas now, what do I do to get through my burnt out stage? I love helping students, but I hate the bureaucracy and the expectations that are put on me by admin, parents, students, etc. Now, I am starting to dislike everything, because it is all too much… I am miserable on a regular basis, and working from the time I get up until the time I go to sleep just to be prepared with a basic lesson for the next day… I feel so stuck… I don’t think this is worth the stress level in my life right now… I still like my life, but hate my job…

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:01:47 +0000

Don’t forget to delete all of your email when you return from vacation. I’m not kidding either. Turn on the out of office assistant and tell folks that you do not intend to follow up on back email when you return (you just get too much). Ask them to politely contact you after you get back.

I get some funny replies to this out of office notice, 100% positive.

By: Anuj

Anuj — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:48:14 +0000

It is difficult to do only the things which you enjoy,it is not optional to do the non enjoying things.
have little humour while at work , do’nt let away even a single opportunity of office gossip,this is a best stress buster.
Remember to give 100% of your committment to work to minimise faults.
Last but not least ,if boss barks then pretend to listen and say O.K and afterwards do whatever you like.
Make one rule never trust any one on earth but yourself.