Ban the Burn – Preventing Employee Burnout

The Caribbean may be home to some of the happiest places on earth but that doesn’t mean we’re immune to employee burn-out. Every day, many of us wake early and return home late in the evening after a day of multi-tasking at work and then having to do the same at home – prepare meals, deal with household chore, finish homework with the kids and spend much needed time with family at the end of the day. It’s a struggle at times and many may find it difficult to establish that equilibrium. Creating a balanced routine is however necessary.

For some, it may result in overwhelming fatigue, exhaustion that can spill over into lack lustre performance and attitude in the office, to isolation or irritation with colleagues, procrastination over project deadlines and apathy at home. These by-products of fatigue may come from many avenues that will ultimately lead you to a dead end. So, if you are experiencing these signs, you might need to change course.

First of all, you need an audit, an honest personal assessment. I’d suggest doing this on your own, as well as reviewing your recent performance assessment or if this hasn’t been done, having a tete-a-tete with your supervisor to gain timely feedback on your job performance.

Some questions you may want to ask yourself: Do you enjoy your job? Are you working effectively and efficiently? Are you equipped with the right tools to perform well; and do you have the right training? Are you working smart or just working? Do you have a mentor- to inspire and guide?

On the home front, an honest assessment of the allotment of chores and re-alignment of finances with your spouse or family member(s) can make the world of difference. Many times, others may not even know that you are overwhelmed, so communication is essential.

Here are some tips that can help you ban the burn and make that U-Turn to a balanced lifestyle:

1. Hello World: Start the day right with a minute or five of quiet time: you may want to meditate, listen to music, have a cuppa or read a few pages of your favourite book. Don’t dive into the phone, iPad or look at the news; just take a moment for yourself. And don’t forget breakfast – it’s the most important meal of the day and will give you that right start.


2. List It: Making lists and planning your day are proven to provide calm and a sense of order. Tip: limit your list to perhaps ten items and don’t be too disappointed if you don’t get through them all; also make sure to add some easy but key tasks, from returning a phone call to completing a thank you letter.


3. Monitor Your Workload and Prioritise: Review your projects and prioritise them – and then share this with your supervisor/manager so that you’re on the same page. If you find that you need assistance or technical aids: from updated software to educational information or HR support, consider making an informed presentation or formal request to your manager and team.


4. Always Show Up Prepared: Do your homework and then some. It’s on you – find ways to gain more information about your project and challenge yourself to share this in new fun, innovative ways with your team and/or clients. Keep reading, go to plays, movies, volunteer, join social clubs, take on a new sport – what we don’t realise is that knowledge is power and, social interaction teaches us leadership and communication skills that help us throughout our lives – at home and in the workplace.


5. De-clutter Your Workspace: Make sure that your office is an organised, comfortable, clutter free space and the feng shui is guaranteed to help you work happily and more effectively. Clutter confuses the mind and can add to your stress.


6. Get Fit: Science has proven that exercise helps release those endorphins that clear your mind, raise your mood and provide a sense of accomplishment. Try and aim for 25-35 minutes a day – it can range from a walk, to yoga in your living room, or a swim in the sea or a simple exercise class. Get moving!


7. Give Back: Volunteering and helping others is not only a great way to help the less fortunate in our society, but it will give you a sense of purpose and a realisation that you can make a difference in the lives of others. It’s all about giving back and appreciating life. It also provides great personal satisfaction that you have done something for someone else.

Finally, if you have the responsibility of being a team lead it’s important that you keep an eye out for the signs of burnout and that you’re prepared to meet it with a listening ear, an open mind and a willingness to offer support. For any members of our Republic Bank team who may have a sense that you are heading towards burnout, please reach out to us, we’re here to help.

Also, if you’ve had an experience with burnout or tips on how to beat it, I’d love to hear them.