HR Burnout Sucks

The Burnout Thermometer

I once drained myself of mental, physical and emotional energy to nearly the point of no return as a result of my attempts to positively influence the negative effects of business on humans.

This is What I Learned:

1. They don’t give out medals for that.
2. The signs were there WAY before I started noticing them.
3. I was the only one who was in a position to notice those early signs.
4. It is easy to ignore the signs.
5. It is easy to muscle through.
6. Being busy and overwrought is a badge of honor in some cultures.
7. It is hard to let go of the notion that I can’t change other people or circumstances.
8. I am not as critical to things working out as I think I am.
9. There are hundreds of thousands of organization running successfully without my help.
10. When people tell me it’s ok to rest, I can take them at their word.
11. When I think I need to rest, I can take myself at my word.
12. Self care is not stupid.
13. Getting good sleep, eating right and exercising is boring but necessary.
14. I have way more energy and potential than is generally asked of me to expend.
15. I am the only one who is in a position to recognize that potential and engage that energy.
16. There are way more options available to me than I often acknowledge.
17. Living to my potential takes discipline and hard work.
18. It’s no one’s job but mine to make the changes necessary in order to thrive.
19. Change is hard.

Take Your HR Burnout Temperature

Take a moment to take your burnout temperature. Are you feverish with joy or chilled with despair? Somewhere in between? If so, which direction are you headed in and how can you ensure you’re getting warmer? Because, like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, burnout is a lifestyle disease: entirely preventable, reversible with early intervention and potentially deadly. It literally sucks the life out of you.

Ask Yourself:

• Where am I on the burnout thermometer?
• What actions can I take to reduce stressors in my work and life?
• What do I love to work on or play at and how can I add some of those activities to my days?
• What one change would make the biggest positive difference? What small step toward that change could I make?

Choose to Thrive

Take this important step. Access your own HR network, your Employee Assistance Program, your health provider or close friends or family for help if needed. You are the only one who can decide that it’s worth the effort to make the changes you need to thrive. But you are worth the effort and it’s nicer on the other side.

Feel better. Get stronger. Thrive.

If you would like to learn more ways to support your HR career consider joining UPschool. UPschool is an online platform that allows access to programs, workshops, expert guidance, tools and templates to human resource management professionals offering them support, guidance and leadership development.