We want to address a topic that is often confusing for many, and it is key to understand it in order to take the right actions: how to differentiate stress from burnout, what is the line that marks the difference between the former and the latter? - Continue reading 👇
Burnout is not the same as stress and cannot be cured just by taking an extended vacation, slowing down or working fewer hours.
Stress is one thing; burnout is an entirely different state of mind. Under stress, you still struggle to cope with day-to-day pressures. But once burnout takes hold, you run out of energy and life begins to lose meaning and small tasks feel like a BIG effort.
The "chicken and egg" findings show that stress and burnout are mutually reinforcing.
However, burnout has a much greater impact on stress than vice versa. This means that the more severe a person's burnout becomes, the more stressed he or she will feel at work.
Employees suffering from burnout must receive adequate support to break the vicious cycle between job stress and burnout.
🚨Research suggests that when employees feel they have some degree of control over their work and receive support from peers and superiors, the effect of burnout on job stress can potentially be minimized.
What can companies do to break the "chicken and egg" cycle and reduce the effects of burnout on job stress?
The right profiles to start with are managers and how they manage their teams.
It is key that employees have the opportunity to give feedback to superiors at any time and that management gives them their full attention, thus allowing time for employees to recover from this vicious cycle.
