Work Stress versus Burnout You’ve likely told a buddy or loved one you felt “burnt out” before. Burnout is commonly used to describe feelings of stress and/or being tired after a busy work week. The true meaning of burnout reflects a long-term response to work-related events resulting in a loss of job satisfaction and decrease in work effort. If you experience burnout, you may feel you can no longer give your best at work, are unhappy in your job and have a hard time feeling accomplished. Work StressWork StressThroughout life, work stress is not uncommon. While workplace stress can contribute to burnout, they are not the same. Typically, work stress is the result of short-term demands or stressors that have a negative impact on your personal wellbeing. Feelings of distress in the workplace includes difficulty concentrating, anxiety and sadness. BurnoutBurnoutBurnout happens when work stress builds up. You may notice an increase in mental fatigue or emotional exhaustion, loss of joy or work satisfaction and a disconnect from your coworkers and/or the mission. As a Warfighter, work stress is inevitable, but burnout negatively impacts readiness. Preventing and Managing Work Stress and Burnout Engage in healthy lifestyle activities Strive to get 7-9 hours of sleep every 24 hours Try tactical napping if you cannot get all your hours at once Engage in moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 150-300 minutes per week Reach for colorful, balanced meals when possible Limit alcohol use Avoid tobacco and nicotine use Prioritize mental health Make time for activities you enjoy Connect with friends and loved ones Find things to be grateful for Practice thought reframing Use stress reduction techniques Build coping skills and resilience Talk to your health care team about your emotional wellbeing Impact on the Warfighter Due to the demanding nature of military life, Warfighters often experience work stress. If you don’t have protective behaviors in place to reduce your work stress, you could be at risk for burnout. Extended duty hours, rotational shift work, poor sleep quality, environmental exposures (e.g., cold, heat, dampness) and work-family conflict can all contribute to work stress and may lead to burnout if unchecked. Over time, a prolonged high op-tempo can decrease a Warfighter’s capacity to manage work stress, increase the risk for burnout and reduce lethality and readiness. Additionally, burnout negatively impacts unit cohesion, combat effectiveness and can lead to negative outcomes in your personal life. Fortunately, there are many strategies to help you prevent and manage these experiences. Work Stress or Burnout Quiz Click and drag options to their corresponding zones. Work Stress Burnout Feelings of isolation Trouble focusing Loss of interest in things you typically enjoy Sadness Frequently tired, even with enough sleep Anxiousness Emotionally exhausted Stressed Trouble sleeping Less motivated When to Seek Help As a Warfighter, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It takes self-awareness to recognize the signs of work stress and burnout. Pay attention to your emotions and learn to swap negative thoughts for positive ones. If you find that work stress or burnout are impacting your daily life, seek help by reaching out to your health care provider, chaplain or Military and Family Life Counselor. Workload and work environment play a large role in work stress. Speak with your leadership to increase their awareness, as command-level efforts are impactful, as well. If you are unsure what community-level resources there are, ask command leadership, your local MWR of Military OneSource to learn about services available on your installation. Additional ResourcesMilitary OneSource - “Mental Health”Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration TRICARE Newsroom - “Key to Beating Burnout: Prioritizing Self-Care.”ReferencesCosta, D. K - “The Cost of Caring: Emotion, Burnout, and Psychological Distress in Critical Care Clinicians”
