Let’s talk about three important factors in burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and ineffectiveness.
Too often we only hear about emotional exhaustion, and don’t realize that it’s the interplay of these three factors that contributes to making a clear diagnosis. Specifically, it’s the combination of these three factors with a long-term mis-match of what you value in life with what you’re doing every day.
There are specialists who will give a more comprehensive description, but here’s the short version:
Emotional Exhaustion: You’re overwhelmed, you’re pretty sure someone stepped on your last nerve and ground it into dust. And you just don’t care anymore.
Depersonalization: You used to care about people, have empathy for those around you. Now everyone seems somewhat suspect. You’re uncharacteristically cynical. And you just don’t care anymore.
Ineffectiveness: You’re wondering if what you do ever mattered, because right now you’re feeling like what you do doesn’t matter. Plus, you’re not feeling so great about your ability to accomplish tasks. And you just don’t care anymore.
Be informed about the interplay of these three important indicators of burnout. You don’t have to go down that hard road. Notice any interplay and build up, and get a little counseling assist and Rest and Relaxation sooner than later.
Here’s to your great health and ever-livin’ vitality!
Please share your stories! That’s how the research gets done, to make it better for everyone!