Burned out? Is it time to change jobs?
When it’s time to leave — signs that you need to change careers
Long gone are the times when we stayed in the same company, career or job for decades until we retire. Changing jobs and even careers is the sign of our times in Canada, especially for immigrants who face additional career hoops and barriers. Sometimes we have no other choice — companies close or reduce staff and we are caught in the middle.
But often times, we grow tired, bored or disillusioned of what we have been doing. In a 2013 survey of 12,000 professionals by the Harvard Business Review, half said they felt their job had no “meaning and significance,” and an equal number were unable to relate to their company’s mission, while another poll among 230,000 employees in 142 countries showed that only 13 per cent of workers actually like their job.(1)
The reasons may be varied: our values or needs may have changed with age and experience, or the organizations and jobs may have grown detached, focused on things we no longer care about, become obsolete or even toxic.
Leaving a job or changing careers is a privilege many don’t have. There are, however, signs you can pay attention to and things you can do.
Signs you may be approaching burnout
- The prospect of another week or workday gets you tired and feeling sick.
- You spend more time doing other things that working: checking email, social media, texting, chatting with co-workers or working on personal projects.
- You are growing increasingly bored, detached or even angry at the tasks in your job and it is starting to show in your performance.
- You take too many sick leaves and you may even feel really sick for no real reasons (your body never lies!).
- You have stopped volunteering for projects or events and show up to the least possible work-related after hours events.
- You find yourself daydreaming in the middle of work meetings and presentations.
The above are signs of burnout and happen to almost everybody at least once in their lifetimes. When burnout is not addressed early, it may lead to real sickness, depression, anxiety and outward manifestations such as becoming belligerent, impatient or withdrawn with co-workers, clients or suppliers, misbehaving at work or at home, and a general feeling of meaningless in life.
What you can do about career burnout
- Pay attention to early signs of burnout.
- Pay attention to your body patterns: sleep, eating, exercise, rest, are there changes?
- Talk to your doctor to make sure your health is not the root cause of your burning out.
- Take some time off: instead of a costly vacation that would only fuel your detachment, take time to reflect in nature and, if possible alone, about your path, your values and needs and those of your family.
- Review your routine and add a self-care practice to keep you grounded.
- Talk to your supervisor or HR to see other ways to use your skills and stay engaged.
- Talk to HR and consider your options; sometimes an unpaid leave may give you time to think, recharge and explore other options.
- Consider taking some training in something you always liked to explore, it may lead to a new career or job, or a new way to see your current job.
- If the origin of your burnout is your job or career, consider a change. You may require extra training, a savings plan and family support, so take one step at a time.
- If you have your own ideas or products and enough expertise, consider starting your own business or join partners with colleagues or friends.
- If needed, look for the support of a compassionate and reliable mental health practitioner.