You're Not Just Tired: The Psychology of Burnout

@arthurdoler Arthur Doler Resources: Boring details about me are at
https://arthurdoler.com https://bit.ly/art-burnout

@arthurdoler When people ask what I do I always just
tell them I solve problems

@arthurdoler tag urself I’m the two dead fish in a
bowl

@arthurdoler “Beer” brand beer. For when you need to know
it’s an actual beer.

@arthurdoler The person in the bathroom has been thoughtfully omitted

@arthurdoler I took some artistic license – SARS COV2 is
not a Langolier

@arthurdoler Installation by Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, video by
Tiktok user @nicwashere

@arthurdoler The Harris Poll on behalf of Spring Health from
Nov 9-11, 2020 among 1,136 employed U.S. adults

@arthurdoler https://www.indeed.com/lead/preventing-employee-burnout-report

@arthurdoler McKinsey & Company Women in the Workplace Study, 2021

@arthurdoler Gallup’s Perspective on Employee Burnout: Causes and Cures, 2019

@arthurdoler Apologies in advance to any Brads in the audience

@arthurdoler Brad put that person’s desk in storage. To motivate
them.

@arthurdoler Pictured: a very effective management strategy

@arthurdoler Try Sad brand weights! For all your sad weight
needs.

@arthurdoler Good job, Brad.

@arthurdoler Not pictured: Brad’s family

@arthurdoler If it was, this talk would be done already.

@arthurdoler A good question!

@arthurdoler NOT A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS V. Vahia, 2013

@arthurdoler NOT JUST AN AFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE, EITHER Though emotions are
absolutely part of it.

@arthurdoler NOT JUST EXHAUSTION OR DEPRESSION Liu & Van Liew,
2003

@arthurdoler That’s kind of my specialty, honestly.

@arthurdoler The British Medical Association Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 2002

@arthurdoler Another good question!

@arthurdoler … that has a garbage answer!

@arthurdoler Pick your favorite.

@arthurdoler Liu & Van Liew, 2003

@arthurdoler This is the most 1970s pop-psych cover I have
ever seen.

@arthurdoler The big bad original burnout.

@arthurdoler If we talked about all of them, we’d be
here all day.

@arthurdoler ICD QD85 - BURNOUT Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized
as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by three dimensions: 1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job 3) a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life. https://id.who.int/icd/entity/129180281

@arthurdoler So many good questions!

@arthurdoler I know, because I was there

@arthurdoler Repeatedly found themselves in the grips of burnout Found
themselves juggling stress on multiple fronts Were stuck on dead-end projects Felt like they had to outperform their coworkers to keep pace Were overworked to the point of physical symptoms …even seizures! Huge thanks to everyone I interviewed!

@arthurdoler Please don’t use unsafe climbing practices to scale burning
dumpsters

@arthurdoler Maslach & Jackson, 1981

@arthurdoler EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION “I feel used up at the end
of the work day” “I feel fatigued when I get up in the morning and have to face another day on the job” “I feel like I’m at the end of my rope” Maslach & Jackson, 1981

@arthurdoler DEPERSONALIZATION “I’ve become more callous towards people since I
took this job” “I worry that this job is hardening me emotionally” “I feel I treat some clients/coworkers as if they were impersonal ‘objects’” Maslach & Jackson, 1981

@arthurdoler PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT “I have accomplished many worthwhile things in
this job” “In my work, I deal with emotional problems very calmly” “I feel I’m positively influencing other’s lives through my work” Maslach & Jackson, 1981

@arthurdoler The absolute worst Platonic Solid

@arthurdoler The best question yet!

@arthurdoler Like a Choose Your Own Adventure except at the
end of every path is burnout

@arthurdoler Veninga & Spradley, 1981; Freudenberger & North, 1985

@arthurdoler The start of the slippery cycle.

@arthurdoler Veninga & Spradley, 1981

@arthurdoler Freudenberger & North, 1985

@arthurdoler “A surefire signal that [Intensity] is in effect will
be the unwillingness to delegate work, responsibilities, or domestic chores for fear of losing perfect control.” Freudenberger & North, Women’s Burnout, 1985

@arthurdoler We continue down the slope…

@arthurdoler SOME DAYS YOU HANDLE STRESS NOTICEABLY BETTER THAN OTHERS
Veninga & Spradley, 1981

@arthurdoler WHEN YOU START TO NOTICE THIS CONFLICT, OR SOMEONE
BRINGS IT TO YOUR ATTENTION… Freudenberger & North, 1985 YOU DOUBLE DOWN ON IT!

@arthurdoler I’ve been here and it SUCKS

@arthurdoler Oof Size: Tremendous

@arthurdoler GENUINE, PHYSICAL FATIGUE SETS IN – CAN’T GET RESTED
Freudenberger & North, 1985

@arthurdoler YOU START DISPLACING STRESS ONTO FALSE CURES Freudenberger &
North, 1985

@arthurdoler We’re getting into the rougher stuff…

@arthurdoler This example presumes no global pandemic is ongoing.

@arthurdoler Free Idea: Start “Pizza 4 2” as a combo
pizzeria/marijuana dispensary.

@arthurdoler Things are looking grim…

@arthurdoler It doesn’t get any worse than this.

@arthurdoler EXPERIENCING ONE OR MORE OF THESE SYMPTOMS DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY
MEAN YOU HAVE BURNOUT Something else – possibly quite serious! – could be going on.

@arthurdoler EVEN IF YOU DON’T EXPERIENCE THE FULL CYCLE, YOU
MAY STILL HAVE BURNOUT Your privileges can cushion you from some of the effects.

@arthurdoler LET’S LOOK AT SOME INTERSECTIONS Intersectionality is the game
we can all play!

@arthurdoler Lemonade stands at this intersection tend to do well.

@arthurdoler HOW DID YOU LEARN TO HANDLE STRESS? “I never
figured it out” is an actual answer you can have here

@arthurdoler Alarcon, Eschleman, & Bowling, 2009

@arthurdoler Take my job… please! *laugh track*

@arthurdoler Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter, 2001

@arthurdoler If anyone hands me an apple as thanks, I’ll
eat it angrily right then and there

@arthurdoler Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter, 2001

@arthurdoler A fun argument for the whole office!

@arthurdoler This is a huge misconception about burnout.

@arthurdoler This neighborhood is basically a superfund site.

@arthurdoler Givin’ him the old 1-2

@arthurdoler I’m in this picture and I don’t like it

@arthurdoler Humans are really good at patterns.

@arthurdoler Humans are really, really, really good at patterns.

@arthurdoler WORKAHOLISM CAN BE A DIRECT RESPONSE TO EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
OR PERSONAL STRUGGLES The human need for control is constant.

@arthurdoler This intersection is confusing, for multiple reasons.

@arthurdoler FEELING THE NEED TO PROVE YOURSELF CAN PROPEL YOU
INTO THE BURNOUT SEQUENCE Starting off at a disadvantage.

@arthurdoler Since burnout is intrinsically related to stress, this is
huge.

@arthurdoler IF YOU GET BURNOUT, IT CAN MANIFEST DIFFERENTLY Houkes,
Winants, Twellaar, and Verdonk, 2011

@arthurdoler This is the best, most gloriously faux deco cover
ever.

@arthurdoler The final and best question of all!

@arthurdoler THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT SLIDE IN THE
TALK.

@arthurdoler Unknown original image source

@arthurdoler THE FIRST STEP IS TO STOP DENYING IT. Denying
burnout is all about maintaining the narrative that you’re in control.

@arthurdoler This probably shouldn’t be first thing you try.

@arthurdoler FIND “WORTHWHILE” WORK – WHERE YOU AND OTHERS SEE
VALUE IN IT This is a thorny thing to think through because of externalities.

@arthurdoler Wait, work/life what now?

@arthurdoler Yes, Virginia, there IS life outside of work.

@arthurdoler This perspective seems bleak, but it is useful, sometimes.

@arthurdoler YOUR JOB IS NOT WORTH GIVING UP TIME WITH
YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, OR YOUR PARTNER… Ever, ever ever, ever ever ever. Ever. EVER. EVER.

@arthurdoler Yes, you can get out of burnout by doing
more things, not less.

@arthurdoler

@arthurdoler The further down the cycle you went, the more
time it takes to get well.

@arthurdoler A thoughtful question!

@arthurdoler All by yourself!

@arthurdoler NORMALIZE TALKING ABOUT IT I am once again asking
you to talk about your emotions with coworkers

@arthurdoler Give overwork the ol’ heave-ho!

@arthurdoler Not actually a diagram of a queueing algorithm.

@arthurdoler Be gentle – remember that denial of burnout is
about retaining control.

@arthurdoler DISCUSS EXTERNAL STRESSORS WITH FOLKS Maybe even do it
in that meeting where you plan with your team?

@arthurdoler Use your powers for good!

@arthurdoler BUILD SLACK INTO YOUR SCHEDULES! Actual, real slack, not
just a vague “Don’t work so hard.”

@arthurdoler CREATE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING AND TIME OFF https://www.indeed.com/lead/preventing-employee-burnout-report

@arthurdoler LOOK OUT IT’S RIGHT BEHIND YOU

@arthurdoler Beware, value !== effort, but you want to believe
it is!

@arthurdoler CREATE AN EXPECTATION THAT EXTERNAL STRESSORS ARE TO BE
TALKED ABOUT Outside of work is a real place that affects inside of work.

@arthurdoler This is your most important job as a manager.

@arthurdoler ABOVE ALL: BE ALERT BE AWARE PROTECT YOURSELF “Protect
ya neck”, as the great Wu-Tang say.

@arthurdoler Arthur Doler My website is probably still https://arthurdoler.com Resources:
https://bit.ly/art-burnout And a huge thank you to my community on Twitch!

You're Not Just Tired: The Psychology of Burnout

You're Not Just Tired: The Psychology of Burnout

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