What Does Work Mean To You - From Burnout To Engagement
"Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work."
- Robert Orben
It isn’t a surprise to say that majority of us are working for the money in this day and age. Some drag their feet to work, while few eagerly embraces the unknown and never ending challenges of a work day. The unfortunate reality is that money is essential for maintaining our basic living standard and the circumstances can be quite brutal if we are living below the poverty line.
Yet, it can be both mentally and physically detrimental as well if our financial goals are to earn as much money as we can, often at the expense of our time and health. There is a saying that many will sacrifice their health to make money during their youth, and sacrifice money to recover their health in their later years. At the end of the day, they realised that they never really lived their lives. No money, poor health and out of time.
Burnout Or Tap Out
The emphasis on raising the awareness about severe work stress and its coping methods has been low, albeit the increasing prevalence of individuals suffering from burnout. Take the karoshi deaths in Japan, also known as overwork death, where office workers die from heart attacks and strokes due to stress and malnourishment at work. Or the unsustainable 996 work culture in China, working from 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. It was with the COVID 19 pandemic, when greater awareness was generated over mental wellbeing and stress management at work.
The pandemic forced the world economy to rapidly adapt with a work from home culture to reduce the spread of the disease. Although some may enjoy the convenience of working at home, this shift has brought about isolation, unrealistic work expectations and even online surveillance by employers to many people. With so much stress, and the lack of know of how to cope, why don’t individuals just leave for greener pastures elsewhere?
"The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one."
- Oscar Wilde
The reasons for not quitting will inevitably vary between individuals, but common factors usually include societal judgement (of being a failure or someone who is weak), fear of uncertainty and lack of money. As Oscar Wilde has expressed, potentially from a candid perspective, the repercussions of quitting often outweighs the negatives of staying with the current job. This can be true especially in today’s highly competitive landscape and low unemployment situation. Finding another job can be a tough challenge for some.
Navigating Burnout
Then what can the average person do in situations where they are on the brink of burnout but still hesitant to quit their job? First and foremost, be clear about your goals and what success means to you. It could be achieving a healthier body, spending more family time or wealth! If wealth is what you are striving for, the key is to determine a specific amount you think is sufficient to sustain the lifestyle you want. This step brings your focus to what is important for you, acting as a stimulus for you to start making changes at work to prioritise your well being.
With a clear end point, it is time to set some boundaries. To protect your time, prioritise your efforts and establish good habits towards achieving what is important to you. The reality is, we need to do what we can, with what we have wherever we may be. Time and energy for each of us is finite. Life’s choices carry huge opportunity costs and they create cascading effects many years down the road. Remember, if you let the small and minute nonsense fill your jar of life first, you won’t have the capacity left for your big and meaningful pursuits later on.
"By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day."
- Robert Frost
Ironically, it isn’t uncommon of workplaces to reward good performing staff with more work. As a leader who manages a team of eleven, the choice to delegate and rely on reliable and capable individuals more makes perfect sense. But, as a sensible and fair leader, I am also making a conscious effort to maintain balance and fairness in terms of work distribution. In the event that you are in a situation described by Robert Frost, don’t forget that you have every right to reject a promotion or turn down a project if your boundaries or priorities are compromised. Don’t be that frog in boiling water. There will be situations where getting out and calling it quits is necessary, and it isn’t a choice to be ashamed of. You do what it takes to pursue your fulfilling and balanced life.
Perhaps A Paradigm Shift
Making a conscious decision to downshift my pace of living by moving from Singapore to New Zealand last year, I had to make very deliberate changes in my mindset towards work. Salary and progression although important, are no longer key factors when it comes to the work I do. As a result, I was inspired to reinterpret work as a means of getting paid while discovering and improving myself as an individual and professional. Specifics on some of my work related pursuits in my other post here.
This paradigm shift has been nothing short of transformational. Not only did it bring my focus away from the exhausting comparison mindset, it sustains a strong and consistent momentum of self reflection and strive towards excellence. Challenges at work are perceived as opportunities, set backs are viewed as stepping stones to try better. This aligns strongly with two of my core values - growth and consistency. As a result, I am driven by intrinsic factors at work, keeping burnout at bay. Naturally, there will come a time when the work no longer provides me with new stimulations and learning opportunities. Perhaps, that is when I know is an appropriate time to take on a new challenge elsewhere or through a new position.
Concluding
Life does not ask what we want. Rather, it presents us with options. We need to know what our values and ambitions are so that we can make decisive moves when the opportunity presents itself. Sometimes, we need to create those opportunities ourselves by setting reasonable boundaries or to take a leap of faith rather then staying status quo and risk burning out at our current workplace. Maybe, a new and personal interpretation of work might be the silver bullet for you to find meaning and engagement at work.
Hope this post gives you some inspiration and direction on navigating your work challenges!