AUTHOR
MOIRA JUNGE Dr Moira Junge is a registered , practising Health Psychologist , and is the current CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation . Moira is also a member of the healthylife Advisory Board , that draws upon the experience , skills , and knowledge of a range of experienced health professionals .
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ’ RE
EXPERIENCING BURNOUT ?
Psychologist Moira Junge explains burnout , and takes us through some key strategies to manage this common syndrome .
Burnout may seem like a relatively new ‘ buzz ’ word , but it was first used
almost 50 years ago , in 1974 . However , the focus on burnout has increased steadily over the years as the pace of life increases .
So , what exactly is it ?
Burnout isn ’ t considered a medical diagnosis , but a collection of symptoms that can affect your mental and physical health . It ’ s
defined as a syndrome that results from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed .
While burnout is complex , and people will experience it in different ways , it can be broken down into three dimensions :
} Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion ;
} Increased mental distance from one ’ s job , or negative feelings or cynicism related to one ’ s job , and possible disillusionment e . g “ what am I doing here ?”; and
} Reduced professional efficacy ; that is , you may begin to feel incompetent and ineffective , lose your confidence , and take a lot longer to get through your workload .
It ’ s important to note that ‘ burnout ’ as a classified syndrome
refers to the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life .
Burnout isn ’ t something that happens overnight . It ’ s a result of stress accumulated over long-term involvement in situations that are
8 YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE