Bounce back from burnout
Oct 04, 2023
In a recent survey, a whopping 44% of employees have admitted to feeling burnt out at some point.
44%…that’s nearly half! It's definitely a cause for concern and something that needs attention across workplaces in Australia.
We’ve learned this thanks to a survey conducted by the Corporate Mental Health Alliance (CMHAA), who gathered feedback from almost 8,000 people in Australia's top companies.
The point of the survey was to find out what factors most affect mental health in the workplace.
According to the data, nearly half of employees (47%) admit they're not performing up to their usual standards. And guess what? A whopping 58% of them are showing signs of burnout. Plus, 26% say they're dealing with persistent burnout.
That's quite a concerning statistic, isn't it?
When it comes to what’s causing the stress, employees say they are mostly worried about their mental and emotional well-being.
Sound familiar?
The second biggest source of stress was ‘financial pressures’. Cost of living has gone up by 7% in the last year, so no surprises there either. Family and relationship issues also play a role in contributing to stress levels in the workplace.
From a financial perspective, the research calculated presenteeism of employees and translated it into 'days lost'; the number ranges from a best result of 11.8 days for employees experiencing 'no stress', to a high of 26.2 for those experiencing mental/emotional and physical stress.
Workers who identify as 'highly stressed', lost 24.4 days to presenteeism.
"To make this real, for an organisation with 1,000 people, 130 would be in the 'high stress' group and lose on average 24.4 days - reflecting a total of 3,172 days lost to presenteeism.
If we look at this as an excess over the days lost in the 'no stress' group, it's 12.6 excess days on average or 1,638 days in total." the CMHAA said.
Reignite your fire. Escape burnout's clutches. 
If you too are feeling stressed or burnt out at work, don't worry, you're definitely not alone. There can be a bunch of reasons causing that stress, like working long hours, having tonnes of stuff on your plate, and dealing with office drama.
Hang in there, and have a look at some actions you can take to deal with your stress.
Work smarter, stress lesser...
Whether you’re in a team or a leader, there’s a number of things you can do to relieve some of the stress:
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Make sure you don't overload yourself with a bunch of stressful tasks all at once. It's always better to take things one step at a time and give yourself some breathing room.
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Having a chat with someone you really trust, whether it's in your personal or professional life, can do wonders. It's great to have that one person you can rely on and confide in.
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Why not give meditation or mindfulness
a go for some chill vibes? Trying out new relaxation techniques can be a great way to unwind and find your inner zen. -
Knowing when you need a break from work and reducing your hours can be really important. It's all about giving yourself some breathing room and finding that balance between work and personal life.
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If you're in need of some advice or tips related to your health, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor or healthcare professional. They're the experts and can provide you with the guidance and assistance you need. So go ahead and ask them for their help - they're there for a reason!
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Chat with your boss! That's one of the things they're there for - to support you in being your absolute best at work. You can talk to them about finding ways to work that will help you reduce your stress levels.
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You can also always contact professional organisations such as Heads Up, Black Dog Institute or SANE Australia for advice.
'No'. Just say it. 
It’s also super important to remember that’s it’s ok to just say ‘I’m stressed’…’it’s too much’, or even just as simple as a ‘no’.
Sometimes enough is just enough, and it’s 100% ok to say that. It’s probably the best thing you can do for your mental health to be honest.
Check in with yourself and your stress levels, and remember to say ‘no’ before your burn out ‘bending’ turns into a burn out ‘break’.