Dr LeCrone
03-30-2006, 08:21 AM
Do you feel that life is much like that of a child riding a merry-go-round? Are you never able to grab the brass ring? Does one day seem to merge into the next?
Are weekends but a brief pause in this merry-go-round? Does anxiety creep in when you are not working or haven’t caught up at work? Do you find it hard to enjoy activities outside of work? Or guilty when you take off for more than a few days? Do you wake up in the morning feeling as tired as you did the night before?
These are but a few of the symptoms of the condition called job burnout, a serious affliction of the ‘80s.
Psychologists believe the problem may become more prevalent because graduates in this decade are imposing a great deal of stress on themselves. They are a new breed of gung-ho, material-oriented individuals who place their careers and material success as their number one priority.
Burnout usually develops over a period of time and is unnoticeable to the sufferer. Here’s the pattern as it develops: A person becomes obsessed with being number one. As the rewards of hard work continue to bring kudos from his peers and colleagues, perfectionism sets in. Financial rewards bring material possessions and the stamp of success is evident. The entrepreneur yuppie of today may be a highly susceptible burnout candidate by the turn of the century.
Dr. J. Herbert Freudenberger, a psychologist and author of Burnout: The High Cost of Achievement, tells us burnout comes as a result of jobs that demand more of the individual than he may have on reserve, physically and emotionally.
Keeping track of what is demanded by the individual and others, therefore, is one key element in any program designed to avoid burnout.
Which professions are most likely to have burnout victims?
• Those dealing with people. These include health care professionals, doctors, nurses, teachers and lawyers. People who are expected to produce significant changes in other people’s lives are most susceptible.
• Professions related to moving people or things, such as air traffic controllers and truck drivers. Having to control things that are not always controllable and being expected to be free from errors leads to high burnout.
Who is most burnout prone?
• Those who are prone to reap a lot of positive regard from those whom they serve;
• Those who want to be liked, loved or wanted by their clients, patients or customers;
• Those who tie a lot of personal self-regard to their job;
• And those who equate failure with anything less than perfection.
What qualities are found in people who seem to be burnout resistant?
• They have a sense of commitment and a feeling of being a part of their job, are enthusiastic about their work but live by the credo “I work to live” rather than “I live to work.” These people also believe their opinions and input are valued.
• They have a sense of control in their lives, a feeling that what they do really does make a difference, that they can affect change and are “pulling their own strings.”
• They are not frightened by change. They accept it as a challenge and welcome it as an opportunity.
If you are going into a service-related profession you should consider learning about burnout early in your career. Never develop the belief that you are immune to the problem. Learn to sidestep difficulties in this occupational hazard.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1986
Are weekends but a brief pause in this merry-go-round? Does anxiety creep in when you are not working or haven’t caught up at work? Do you find it hard to enjoy activities outside of work? Or guilty when you take off for more than a few days? Do you wake up in the morning feeling as tired as you did the night before?
These are but a few of the symptoms of the condition called job burnout, a serious affliction of the ‘80s.
Psychologists believe the problem may become more prevalent because graduates in this decade are imposing a great deal of stress on themselves. They are a new breed of gung-ho, material-oriented individuals who place their careers and material success as their number one priority.
Burnout usually develops over a period of time and is unnoticeable to the sufferer. Here’s the pattern as it develops: A person becomes obsessed with being number one. As the rewards of hard work continue to bring kudos from his peers and colleagues, perfectionism sets in. Financial rewards bring material possessions and the stamp of success is evident. The entrepreneur yuppie of today may be a highly susceptible burnout candidate by the turn of the century.
Dr. J. Herbert Freudenberger, a psychologist and author of Burnout: The High Cost of Achievement, tells us burnout comes as a result of jobs that demand more of the individual than he may have on reserve, physically and emotionally.
Keeping track of what is demanded by the individual and others, therefore, is one key element in any program designed to avoid burnout.
Which professions are most likely to have burnout victims?
• Those dealing with people. These include health care professionals, doctors, nurses, teachers and lawyers. People who are expected to produce significant changes in other people’s lives are most susceptible.
• Professions related to moving people or things, such as air traffic controllers and truck drivers. Having to control things that are not always controllable and being expected to be free from errors leads to high burnout.
Who is most burnout prone?
• Those who are prone to reap a lot of positive regard from those whom they serve;
• Those who want to be liked, loved or wanted by their clients, patients or customers;
• Those who tie a lot of personal self-regard to their job;
• And those who equate failure with anything less than perfection.
What qualities are found in people who seem to be burnout resistant?
• They have a sense of commitment and a feeling of being a part of their job, are enthusiastic about their work but live by the credo “I work to live” rather than “I live to work.” These people also believe their opinions and input are valued.
• They have a sense of control in their lives, a feeling that what they do really does make a difference, that they can affect change and are “pulling their own strings.”
• They are not frightened by change. They accept it as a challenge and welcome it as an opportunity.
If you are going into a service-related profession you should consider learning about burnout early in your career. Never develop the belief that you are immune to the problem. Learn to sidestep difficulties in this occupational hazard.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1986