With lots of things to do and seemingly never enough hours in the day to fit them all in, life often moves at a frenetic pace for many Americans, having to juggle family responsibilities with work obligations. And it's gotten to the point where nearly everyone has felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all, according to a newly released survey.
More than 95 percent of working parents say they've experienced burnout – i.e. extreme physical or mental fatigue, mainly caused by stress – on at least one occasion before, based on a recent poll conducted by education and advisory services firm Bright Horizons. Additionally, more than half of workers indicate that they aren't happy with where they are in their current profession, fueled in part by the anxiety employees often feel on the job.
Yet despite the all-encompassing aspect to workplace fatigue that many in today's workforce often experience, workers aren't willing to divulge their frustration to their supervisors, the poll found. More than two-thirds indicated that they're hesitant to say something to their employer about feeling burnt out and more than three-quarters – 77 percent – said that they're unwilling to mention anything about establishing a more effective work/life balance.
Managers say burnout is avoidable
This has left employers in a bit of a conundrum, not wanting their workers to feel overwhelmed, but at the same time not being able to determine when staff members are feeling the effects of overexertion. The Bright Horizons survey found that more than 1 in 3 managers are concerned that parents struggle with balancing work and personal life responsibilities and 60 percent indicate that burnout is preventable when it's brought to their attention.
David Lissy, Bright Horizons CEO, pointed out that employers have a responsibility to promote a working environment that promotes communication so solutions can be reached when employees are struggling.
"All employers must consistently look for new ways to ensure that the culture they are cultivating is one that resonates with, and is valued by, their employees," Lissy explained.
Wellness programs promote physical, mental well-being
This is part of the reason why more companies – both large and small – are offering workplace wellness programs in addition to standard employee benefits. Though wellness activities are often thought of as promoting physical well-being, they can also serve as effective ways to reduce mental strain and energy loss caused by stress.
Exercise – made available through discounts on fitness club memberships, for example – can reduce the fatigue that's often associated with burnout. Though it may seem counterintuitive, physical activity has been proven to fight symptoms associated with exhaustion and lethargy, including one done by researchers at the University of Georgia. The 2008 study found that low-intensity exercise can reduce fatigue symptoms by as much as 65 percent.
"Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out – especially when we are already feeling fatigued," Tim Puetz, Ph.D, the study's co-author pointed out at the time. "However … regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy."
