Burnout looms in times of crisis

This week's post comes from the heart. During normal times, burnout is an affliction that hits a considerable amount of the working population. But in times of crisis, its shadow looms over everyone. The current pandemic is forcing a global lockdown, businesses have been disrupted, and life has crawled down to a halt. But those who can, have been shoved into a home office, sandwiched between their constant concern for their family's health and their own.

Before the crisis, people brought their work home. Not in the literal sense, but the stress of their business followed them home after clocking out at the end of their shift.

Now? This luxury is gone for the foreseeable future. It is time to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Juggling Work, Health and Family

Many have lost their jobs, recently, and with that, sympathy to anyone stressing about working from home. Others are still soldiering on in the frontlines, such as healthcare professionals, essential retail workers, and security personnel. I salute your efforts in making sure our world keeps ticking.

But this is not a competition, and the struggles of some should not invalidate the struggles of others. If we do not acknowledge this stack of emotional and physical stress, mental health professionals will get to join in on the action, and the death toll will not be only counting the victims of the pandemic.

Daily life has been completely uprooted, and now, we juggle a constant onslaught of dilemmas we’ve never dealt with before: Should I disinfect my groceries? How do I stay in shape indoors? Are cardboard packages safe to touch? Can I hug my kids?

The atmosphere is ripe for bad business decisions. And if business owners do not acknowledge this new reality, they will lose their staff to burnout.

Seize the day by putting social media aside

Marketing teams and social media influencers have one thing in common lately: they shoved empathy down the drain.

We are being bombarded by feel-good motivational messaging telling us to "Beat the odds" and "seize the opportunity" to finish that project we've been putting off.

Newton discovered gravity during the quarantine from the plague in 1665. Shakespeare wrote King Lear during that same period. So don't waste your "opportunity" and keep grinding.

As a matter of fact, you won't discover the next thing that will revolutionize physics. You might arrange your closet, or squeeze out 8 hours of acceptable quality work, but change the world you will not.

For business owners, the gloves are off

There is one opportunity that you need to seize, though. This crisis is forcing the proverbial gloves off and forcing businesses to get their hands dirty. Employees are being forced to sign their resignations, salaries are being cut, and ridiculous quotas and numbers are being required.

This is the naked truth. In the name of survival, businesses are showing their true colors. This is your chance to change your narrative. Pull out your checks and balances, and find out where you stand.

Have your sacrifices been met in a draconian rule? Have your efforts been brushed off to minimize your cost? Has your buy-in into the company culture secured you a seat on the chopping block? If the balance is way off in their favor, that's how it will always be.

Readjust your compass, and give thought to your professional future. Look for those who took care of their staff in this crisis, and pledge your allegiance to them.

Live to work another day

The stress of maintaining your income in an economy that is crashing to a halt is huge. Maintaining your sanity and drive can be almost impossible in these situations. Sometimes, truly impossible.

You will never get back the lost time with your family or your deteriorating health. But even if it looks impossible, there will always be another job with a business that takes care of you as much as you take care of yourself. Even if that business is your own business.

I am currently on my last legs, and taking a break is looking less like a luxury and more like a necessity with each passing day. Writing these articles gives me joy and relief. I am certain that someday, they will also bring me financial stability.

Are you taking care of your mental health during this crisis? Share with me your coping mechanisms in the comments.