How to avoid getting a burnout

By Goretti Kimani

Exhaustion is like a disease that is expensive to cure, but is avoidable if one uses the right strategy

Most people show a lot of energy and great enthusiasm at the beginning of their careers. At this point, the individual’s excitement and positivity towards work is at top notch. Unfortunately, this feeling is not permanent.

After the person gets used to the work, the boss and the salary, discontentment begins setting in.

Some people even get bored with the assigned jobs and start looking for transfers to other departments. Others lose their ground and drift off to side engagements just to make that extra buck.

And yet others take a back seat and watch as new entrants zoom past them in the career race, and bemoan the good old days long gone.

Daily routine

Others get so lost in their daily work routine that they are no longer conscious of opportunities around them.

For most of individuals, the apathy springs from career burnout. 

A career burn-out is the feeling of being trapped at the same place doing the same things with the same people for the same income, and for what feels like an entire lifetime.

It is an empty feeling, devoid of motivation and with seemingly insurmountable problems at work.

It bears remembering that the burn out is as infectious as any other disease.

Anyone can get affected. It can also be easily avoided and is expensive to cure if left unattended.

How can you avoid a career burnout? To start with, a sense of self-consciousness is critical. You cannot afford to take anything for granted.

Every event or happening at work should be taken with the seriousness it deserves. One should listen to the internal voice that warns you when all is not well.

As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine and every undesirable situation will deteriorate if left unchecked.

Career goals

And ensure you have clear career goals and stick to them. A culture of continuous self-evaluation works well with most people. Keep track of your successes and use them as stepping-stones to greater things.

Avoid the over emphasising your failures, as some people are wont to do, and end up castigating themselves to their ultimate detriment. Rather, every failure should be treated as a lesson to greatness in your career.

Having a role model or mentor will keep your career progress in check. If you have a mentor, you should regularly discuss the situation on the ground as opposed to just waiting for the crisis moment to set in.

Also make a point of mentoring someone along the way. Selfish people never get far in life. On the other hand plenty of growth and joy awaits those willing to make a contribution to others.

Rebrand yourself

Also remember to constantly differentiate and rebrand yourself as you grow your career. Getting stuck in the past is a sure route to mediocrity and frustration.

Read many books, socialise in the right forums and keep your ears and eyes open. As your career progresses, you may change but never stop.

Keep in mind that growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of a cancer cell. No matter what happens never lose sight of your lifetime career goals

The writer is a human resource specialist with Peoplelink Consultants Ltd.

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