You have probably heard overworking linked with the word “productivity” a lot since the pandemic began. Once work from home was accepted as the new normal, the boundaries and balance between professional and personal life came into question.
We often hear about the positives of working from home, especially the comfort, but the downsides are rarely discussed. Long working hours, extra work pressure and having your workplace move into your personal, safe space can cause a great deal of distress.
Research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) suggested that high work pressure and extended working hours resulted in a 29 percent increase in deaths across 194 countries. According to statistics, 40 hours per week is the ideal working time, and anything beyond that is considered a health risk.
Why overwork is glorified in India
The stress load and glorification of overworking in India is a major concern. Because of constant competition, and the belief that overworking leads directly to success, Indian employees facing mental health problems often can’t speak up to their managers.
Indian work culture tends to praise slogging, which lets some bosses take advantage of employees’ vulnerabilities by pushing them to work long hours.
What is burnout?
Burnout among employees is extremely common, but most people don’t notice it until physical symptoms start creeping in. Herbert Freudenberger, a German-American psychologist, coined the term “burnout” in 1974 to describe physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.
These chronic work-related stress symptoms are often dealt with on an ad-hoc basis, and the underlying causes aren’t addressed until it all becomes too much. In India, where mental health awareness still hasn’t reached its full potential, employees can find it hard to raise burnout at work or discuss it with colleagues.
Signs and effects of burnout
Burnout has both mental and physical effects.
The stress hormones released during burnout can harm your body. Overworking has been a major cause of coronary heart disease, and some researchers have also linked it to Type 2 diabetes, vulnerability to illness, high blood pressure and a higher likelihood of death before the age of 45.
For mental health, work stress is a major contributor to depression, anxiety, anger and irritability, and social isolation. The pandemic added to the pressure on employees trying to keep up with constantly changing ways of working.
How to talk to your manager about burnout
Because mental health stigma hasn’t been addressed openly in India, one of the biggest obstacles for employees facing burnout is how to raise it with their manager. These steps can help:
- Find a close confidant. Share what you’re going through with a friend or co-worker. Having someone else’s support will help you feel more comfortable.
- Have an open conversation with your manager and help them understand what burnout really is. Don’t assume they already know. Let them know it was difficult for you to bring this up, and that a break is necessary.
- Reflect on why you’re facing burnout and list what would help you get through this phase. Journalling can help you organise your thoughts.
- Put yourself first. When you take time off, practise self-care, do things you love and relax without apology. Don’t be afraid to disconnect. Prioritising your mental health and well-being now will help you get back on track later.
- Find additional support beyond friends and family. Group therapy and self-help groups offer emotional balance and people to relate to, and a counsellor can guide you through the process and suggest ways to overcome burnout.
What happens if burnout is ignored
Work stress overload affects one in every three people. The consequences of not addressing burnout can be serious. In many cases, people turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or substance use, withdraw from social and professional life, direct anger at close relationships, and struggle to keep up with responsibilities.
How workplaces can prevent burnout
Workplaces can do a lot to support employees’ mental health: good health insurance, access to external counselling and well-being services, policies that promote a healthy work-life balance, and a culture where speaking up and asking for help feels normal and safe.
Very few Indian workplaces sign up for an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), for various reasons, but healthcare professionals highly recommend one. At Trijog, we provide personalised EAPs and corporate wellness solutions trusted by 80+ leading organisations, and every service goes through numerous quality checks. Our programmes include:
- A dedicated customer care helpline, 7 days a week
- Verified domain expertise with accreditation
- A customised 24×7 landing page for bookings
- Reports and metrics
- Support in 15+ languages
- Self-help tools and reminders
Getting support for burnout
Always remember, you’re not alone. If work stress is wearing you down, our work stress and burnout counsellors can help you recover: book a session or call the Trijog helpline on 1800 202 7180.
