How to Prevent Job Burnout

Home » Job Burnout» Preventing Job Burnout

By Jonathan Eqar

In almost every job burnout situation, burnout happens because there are circumstances beyond your control that you just can't fix by yourself in a given situation.

For example, if you have few resources and you need more, but you're not going to get more, there's nothing you can do about it.

If you've been promoted as far as your boss is willing to let you go, there's nothing you can do about getting promoted further. If your company doesn't match your values, there's nothing you can do about it.

When there's "nothing you can do about it" (that's usually when job burnout happens, because you're absolutely powerless to change anything), regrettably, the only fix for that type of burnout may be to switch jobs or careers.

I say "regrettably," because of course you may enjoy your career in many respects and don't want to change.

However, this is also often the case that, even when you go through this change kicking and screaming, you come out the other side better than ever.

So if you are experiencing job burnout through no fault of your own, take heart.

Lots of people have been in your situation, and it's the job burnout itself that has actually led them onto jobs and careers they truly enjoy and that can make a difference.

If you are experiencing job burnout, of course, do try to fix the situation before you change, as long as you like your job.

That is, talk with your employer about changing positions, getting a promotion, getting more resources available to you, or about abstaining from certain practices that don't jive with your values.

If that's not possible, though, or if you've tried to work with your employer and nothing has happened, it may simply be time to change careers and change jobs.

If that's true, sit down with your spouse or significant other (if in a relationship), and figure out the financial considerations required to change jobs, change careers or do whatever else is required, such as go back to school, so that you can do what you really love.

Once you're doing what you really love and you really are in control, you'll find that job burnout dissipates on its own.