A poll of 2,000 employed adults found nearly a third have felt like they cannot go on at some point in their career due to being stressed and exhausted. More than half of those put this down to trying to do too much (52 percent) while 58 percent blamed it on working longer hours. Not taking enough annual leave (39 percent), feeling like you always have to be on (47 percent) and pressure to go above and beyond the call of duty to keep your job (37 percent) also contribute to burnout.
Half of those who have felt stressed have quit as a result, while 29 percent would consider taking unpaid leave, according to the study by flexible workspace provider TOG (The Office Group).
But while working from home has been hailed as the solution to improving work/life balance, since lockdown it has resulted in many working more hours than ever.
More than half of those polled said they had been working outside of their contractual hours since lockdown, putting in an additional 59 hours – or the equivalent of seven working days – over the last five months.
TOG partnered with consultant psychiatrist Dr Sarah Vohra, also known as ‘The Mind Medic’, to share advice on how to prevent burnout and spot the signs of heightened stress and exhaustion at work.
She said: “With almost a third of people saying lockdown has brought them closer to burnout, there is no question the pandemic has greatly impacted the nation’s collective mental health.
“Companies must put defences in place and guard against elements which might cause stress and anxiety, and looking forward, they must make robust changes to ensure employees are protected, particularly during times of uncertainty.”
The study also found that one in three of those polled blamed the lockdown for getting them closer to burning out.
Employees feel working longer hours due to having their workstation close to them (31 percent) and the lack of social interaction (27 percent) both contributed to making the time particularly difficult.
But it also emerged that being young doesn’t necessarily mean being carefree, with almost six in 10 Gen Z workers feeling the strain of the ‘always on’ culture.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, found that in a bid to lower their stress levels, one in five workers have turned to meditation or yoga to relax outside of work.
And 22 percent want their workplace to offer mindfulness and wellness classes to fight burnout.
Olly Olsen, co-founder of TOG (The Office Group), said: “We feel strongly about constantly re-evaluating what people need from their office spaces, especially as we continue to navigate the impact of the pandemic.
“At our workspace in United House, Notting Hill, we’ve incorporated the meditation lounge to offer our members a dedicated place to switch off and take time – ensuring they can re-focus and stay productive.
“Putting wellbeing at the heart of workspace design doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking.
“Providing natural light plus simple additions like breakout areas, comfortable seating and air purifying plants, can make all the difference.”
Following the findings, TOG and its wellness provider, OPO, are offering free meditation sessions for everyone, including non-members, at www.theofficegroup.com/burnout.
DR SARAH VOHRA’S TIPS TO AVOIDING BURNOUT
1. Make clear distinctions between your day and night-time routines
Whether you are commuting to the office, or working from home, make sure you have consistent wake and sleep times. This helps regulate your body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm or sleep/wake cycle.
2. Set aside ‘must-dos’ for the day and write them down
Studies show that the more tasks we commit to simultaneously, the lower our attention span is. This can affect how quickly we complete our tasks, with time often wasted switching between them, making us less efficient and more prone to making mistakes.
3. Ensure exposure to natural sunlight
Your 24-hour body clock relies on repeated patterns of loss of light (night) and return of light (day) to help reset it. Studies show that workers in workplaces with windows not only had significantly more sunlight exposure during work hours, but also slept an average of 46 minutes more each night.