How to Avoid Work Burn Out

Do you dread going to work? Are you experiencing work burn out? If so you're not alone. Most people seem to experience work burn out at some point of their working career. To help understand work burn out and how to prevent work burn out I have interviewed Therapist David Behar.

Tell me a little bit about yourself?
I'm a license psychotherapist/marriage and family therapist in the state of New York and California. I've been a mental health professional for over 27 years. I currently have a private practice in Pelham New York working largely with individual adults and couples.

What are the signs and symptoms of work burn out and what type of impact does work burn out have on job performance?
Anxiety, depression and physical exhaustion can be signs of work burn-out, as well as anger and inability to concentrate. Some jobs rob people of adequate sleep or adequate down time. Worst, some jobs include abusive management that operates with impunity. Burn-out causes mistakes, injuries and illnesses. All of this is exacerbated if there is a lack of job satisfaction.

What can a person do to avoid work burn out?
Get plenty of sleep. No less that 6 or 7 hours of sleep a night. Eight hours would be ideal. Eat regular healthy meals and exercise. Live in a somewhat clean orderly environment. You need control. Too little control and a person can't function; too much control and a person can't change. Activities that are purely about leisure and sensuality are important (movies, music, massage, etc.). Lots of social support, friends and family are crucial. It's okay to have a glass of wine (if alcohol and drugs/addictive behaviors are not an issue). Have healthy sexual outlets is an added bonus.

Make sure you have a job that is satisfying. There is research to suggest that job satisfaction is more closely correlated to longevity that genetics, smoking, diet, fitness and some of these variables combined. In other words, humans respond to purpose. If what you're doing feels meaningless or are very unsatisfying, you are more likely to experience burn-out. If your job sucks, look for a new one. Better yet, take out a student loan and educate yourself toward a career your passionate about. If you have no passion, you may be depressed and should get a medical and psychiatric evaluation. On that note, getting a physical to rule out medical problems is a great adjunct to managing work stress. Even a boring job can be satisfying if you work with friends who are a supportive community.

Lastly, the worst part of most jobs is abusive supervision by personality disordered middle management. Protect yourself against this. Get therapy and read books about how to protect yourself legally and emotionally by implementing appropriate boundaries. Learn to push back and protect yourself without getting fired. Find a labor attorney that will give a free consultation.

Thank you David for the interview. If you would like more information about David Behar check out his website at westchester-therapist.com.