Burnout
Background & Introduction
Your overwhelming response to Library on Wheels has pushed us to announce the launch of our newsletter — “The Inbox Library”
Since LoW started a year ago, we have covered 20 locations, connected with more than 200 readers and exchanged thousands of books. We have hosted a couple of fun quiz events with over 50 participants.
During the course of this journey, we have had the privilege of interacting and engaging with fellow readers on varied topics in the Library hours. Hence, we thought of setting aside an hour every week to facilitate structured forum discussions around relevant topics, or have some activity sessions, etc.
So far, we have conducted four sessions with amazing participation from the community. In the latest session on Burnout, we had a detailed discussion with the participants and were able to curate book recommendations on the topic.
We realise that it is practically not possible to physically attend these sessions every week.
To ensure our community doesn’t miss out on these discussions, we shall be sending out a newsletter every week as our next step. This weekly newsletter will cover the essential points of the discussion along with recommendations of helpful reads related to the topic discussed.
This week’s discussion on “Burnout” was led by Nitin Yadav, an avid reader, and software engineer by profession
Burnout - Why work drains us and how to break the cycle
“All jobs lead to burnout”
Ashleigh Barty, three-time Grand Slam singles champion, and the reigning
champion at Wimbledon and the Australian Open has announced retirement this year. She has stated that she was “absolutely spent” and “physically I have nothing more to give”, explaining that after achieving her ultimate personal goal in the sport, winning Wimbledon, she still “wasn’t quite fulfilled”.
Bjon Borg, first man to win the Wimbledon singles championship five successive times, retired at 26.
While we all have heard the term “burnout,” what does it actually mean? How do we identify that we are suffering from it? How do we avoid burnout?
Let’s start with three main symptoms we can look out for
- Exhaustion — feeling depleted, forgetful
- Cynicism — feeling critical about co-workers or people around you, feeling pessimistic
- Ineffectiveness — not able to meet deadlines, feeling less engaged, not able to focus on tasks
Burnout is thought to be caused by work-related factors. The burned-out are the ones who have worked too hard and have given more than they had. Many sociologists and psychologists argue that the rapid spread of burnout are consequences of modernity and its challenges. The argument states that human energy levels have remained static throughout history, while the cognitive demands on the modern human have increased sharply.
A Gallup study has found that two-thirds of full-time workers experience burnout on the job. And, based on research from Montreal University, Working women report more on-the-job burnout than working men.
The Laziness Lie is a deep seated, culturally held belief system that leads many of us to believe the following : Deep down I’m lazy and worthless. I must work incredibly hard, all the time, to overcome my inner laziness. My worth is earned through my productivity. Work is the centre of life. Anyone who isn’t accomplished and driven is immoral.
“Laziness” is often actually a powerful self-preservation instinct, When we feel unmotivated, directionless, or “lazy,” it’s because our bodies and minds are screaming for some peace and quiet. When we learn to listen to those persistent feelings of tiredness and to honor them, we can really begin to heal.
Feeling tired or unmotivated is not a thread to our self-worth. In fact, the feelings we write as “laziness” are some of humanity’s most important instincts, a core part of how we stay alive and thrive in the long term.
~Quoted from book “Laziness Does Not Exist” by Devon Price
In today’s “always on” world, work stress can be overwhelming, and we often feel like it’s our fault if we can’t stay on top of everything. Taking the time to assess, and rejuvenate instead can make us healthier, happier, and more productive.
“Though it seems tempting to push through feeling run-down for getting stuff done, that road can push us closer to burnout.”
Burnout and the behaviours and the accompanying characteristics aren’t something we can cure taking a break. It’s not limited to workers in high-stress jobs. And it’s not temporary. It’s a millennial condition. It’s become our background music. Because, we have internalised the idea that we should be working all the time.
Aristotle argued that leisure, not work, was the sphere of life in which our true selves can be realised, where humans strive for perfection.
What we can do
Recognise and accept that you are in control of the hours that you are working.
Deal with the root cause of long hours
Establish clear boundaries
“Part of saying “no” is also learning to let it go. Do your best to leave work at work.”
Book recommendations/Books referenced for this discussion
1. The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives, Book by Jonathan Malesic
2. Laziness Does Not Exist, Book by Devon Price
3. Can’t Even: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation, Book by Anne Helen Petersen
4. Civilised to Death: The Price of Progress, Book by Christopher Ryan
5. Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, Book by Sebastian Junger
6. Walden, Book by Henry David Thoreau
Articles referenced for this discussion
1. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work
2. https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01
3. https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/: a place for discussing the current work environment.
4. Bullshit Jobs, Book by David Graeber
Movies referenced for this discussion
- Fight Club by David Fincher.(my all-time fav, don’t be misled by the title :p)
- NomadLand by Chloé Zhao.
That’s it for this week, a brand new newsletter will be ready in your Inbox next week, to deal with those Monday blues, with a topic dear to most of us.
