Burnout

Compared to bore-out, burn-out is the most well-known condition. It is a form of exhaustion that is triggered by excessive stress. It is commonly found in the workplace. It affects both men and women in all professions, but it can also be linked to personal life.

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At work, burnout is linked in particular to excessive workloads and excessive commitment on the part of the employee. Work tasks pile up, demands come from all sides, and the employee finds themselves drowning in all their responsibilities. Burnout is linked to psychosocial risk factors such as excessive workload, excessive demands, conflicts with managers or colleagues, or a feeling of job insecurity. These risk factors cause intense stress. When this stress persists over time, burnout occurs.

Burnout: symptoms:

Burnout causes various emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms:

Emotional:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Decreased motivation
• Decreased self-esteem
• Hypersensitivity
• Isolation

Cognitive:

• Memory disorders
• Attention disorders
• Concentration problems

Physical:

• Intense fatigue
• Sleep disorders
• Vertigo
• Eating disorders
• Muscle tension

Before reaching burnout, employees go through various stages of psychological distress. Initially, they struggle with stress and continue to respond to demands despite the pressure. They do not communicate their difficulties, hiding them from their colleagues. Then comes the exhaustion phase. The person feels physically and psychologically exhausted and no longer has the energy to cope with stress. At work, they are no longer able to perform their tasks and their absenteeism rate increases.

Preventing and treating burnout:

Preventing burnout is possible if you can identify the early warning signs. If you start to experience certain symptoms, take a step back from your work to protect yourself from exhaustion.

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When burnout is confirmed, psychological counseling will help the person get back on their feet and regain a sense of calm in their daily life. This will allow them to speak freely, as they can express themselves openly to their psychologist, enabling them to take a step back. The person will also learn to know themselves better and understand their limits. Learning about oneself helps to return to work in a more peaceful manner.

Bore-out

Unlike burnout, boreout is mental and physical exhaustion that occurs as a result of underwork. The employee experiences significant boredom in their job. They do not have enough work to do, and the few tasks they are given are generally uninteresting, repetitive, and do not correspond to their position. The days become long, and the person tries to fill the time by taking longer coffee breaks or surfing the internet, but in the long run, this boredom becomes unbearable.

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The employee then finds no meaning in their work and feels sidelined. They do not feel useful because they have no goals to achieve, no important tasks that contribute to the development of the company. Bore-out affects the employee's morale; they feel stressed because they have nothing to do, they also feel devalued and tend to lose confidence in themselves. This feeling of uselessness can lead to significant self-doubt and increases the risk of depression.

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Furthermore, in this situation, there is also generally a lack of autonomy for the person who no longer has any decision-making power. This is also where addictive behaviors can appear: tobacco, alcohol, drugs, food. The person takes refuge in one of these elements to alleviate their suffering.

32% of European employees are affected by boredom at work.

Symptoms of bore-out

Boreout has consequences for health, and here too several symptoms appear:

Psychological:

• Anxiety
• Decreased self-esteem
• Decrease in motivation
• Feelings of guilt
• Sadness
• Negative thoughts
• Risk of depression

Physical:

• Sleep disorders
• Fatigue
• Addictive behavior
• Musculoskeletal disorders

What to do in case of bore-out?

In most cases, people who suffer from bore-out keep quiet about it because saying that you are bored at work can be poorly perceived. These people therefore remain isolated, alone in their suffering, and try to minimize their boredom as much as possible. However, it is important to talk about it, initially with your manager if possible. The aim is to work together to find solutions by reviewing the employee's position and responsibilities. The employer has a key role to play in promoting the well-being of their employees.

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It is also possible to seek support from a psychologist who will advise and guide the person to gradually overcome their suffering. The company may also decide to involve an occupational psychologist, who will help prevent psychosocial risks and identify possible solutions to implement.

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The term "bore-out" is nevertheless becoming increasingly common. As with burn-out, barriers are beginning to come down around this taboo.

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