Burnout and stress: the new epidemic?

Along with the COVID-19 19 epidemic, there appears to be another widespread problem: burnout and stress. These are at an all-time high across professions and geographies. The already strained health care workers are significantly impacted. And everyone is troubled by the imposition and politicization mask-wearing, lockdowns and other unrelenting measures.

Every domain of our lives has been overwhelmed: from longer work hours, work from home during non-working environment, increased demands and lack of personal space at home. Maintaining a work-life balance has now become more difficult. As the world experiences the 3rd year of the pandemic, these stressors remain unrelenting and indefinite, increasing everyone’s risk of burnout.

COVID-related stress

Anyone exposed to chronically stressful conditions can undergo burnout. Still, human services employees, medical staff, first responders, and those in educational services are at an even higher risk, especially as some sections of the public continues to resist or avoid COVID-19 prevention measures.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is a syndrome resulting from workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Three factors characterize burnout:

• feeling exhaustion
• increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings of pessimism or cynicism related to work
• and reduced professional efficiency

According to the American Psychological Association (APA) ‘s  2021 Work and Well-being Survey of 1,501 U.S. adult workers, 79% of employees had experienced work-related stress in the month before the survey. 3 in 5 employees reported negative effects of work-related stress, including lack of interest, motivation, or energy (26%) and lack of effort at work (19%). Meanwhile, 36% reported cognitive fatigue, 32% reported emotional exhaustion, and an overwhelming 44% reported physical fatigue—a 38% increase since 2019.As in 2020, American workers across the board saw heightened rates of burnout in 2021.

The Indian scenario

It’s a similar scenario worldwide. Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index indicates that India, among other countries, has been facing this burnout issue greatly.

The survey was conducted among 6,000 information and first-line workers across eight countries including Australia, Japan, India and Singapore. The study revealed that nearly one-third of workers in India experienced heightened burnouts over the past six months. India has the second-highest percentage of workers, with 29 per cent in Asia. Forty-one per cent of Indians said that the lack of separation between their personal and work and life adversely impacted their wellbeing and caused increased stress levels.

Some findings of the study:

1. Pandemic burnout experienced differently in countries

The research indicated that burnout levels varied from country to country. Moreover, everyone experienced burnouts differently. For instance, 29 per cent of Indian workers faced burnouts compared to 45 per cent of workers in Australia (on Microsoft teams). Indian workers increased their work hours by 1 hour – India had the longest workday span of surveyed workplaces.

2. Causes of workplace stress differ

The report revealed that the main trigger of stress among 42 per cent of Indian workers was fear of contracting COVID-19, and 35 per cent also felt isolated or cut off from their colleagues.

The lack of distinction between work and personal commitments was the main stressor among 34 per cent of workers, with extra work-hours coming close to 28 per cent. About 23 per cent of workers also said they could not properly focus on work and getting stressed due to the increased number of meetings.

3. Increased communications and fewer boundaries

Microsoft’s data showed that globally, the number of meetings has not decreased even after six months of work-from-home. People are compelled to take more ad hoc calls and manage more incoming chats than before the pandemic. As people got into remote working, calls or chats between 5 pm and midnight also increased.

4. No office commute time adversely affects workers

For many, the commuting time is a stress reliever and helps the employee disconnect from their office and home. Now, being at home without the commuting, work-life boundaries have vanished. A 2017 study found that 6 in 10 people felt that commute time benefitted them to maintain higher productivity levels. On average, productivity increased from 12 to 15 per cent.

5. Meditation can help in burnout

Of those surveyed in India, 92 per cent said meditation helps decrease work stress. Meditation improves your ability to react to unfavourable conditions, aids in destressing, improves focus and prevents burnout. It is good to take mindfulness breaks anytime, especially before an important meeting.

Seek support

Hope Trust has seen a significant increase in consultations with our psychologists and therapists for burnout and stress-related issues. These also include relationship and parenting problems since students are also impacted by virtual classes and families being thrown together for prolonged periods, and their personal space is constrained.

Substance abuse has also seen an increase in these times. More people seek solace in alcohol and drugs to deal with loneliness and stress.

Seeking online therapy is a great way to deal with stress-related issues.

Hope Trust has increased the number of therapists, each qualified and experienced in their respective areas, to help persons experiencing the stress of the epidemic in their unique ways. Available online, you can access support conveniently from the comfort of your home!

To schedule a confidential consultation with a therapist, call 90008 50001