Have you ever felt undervalued or frustrated with colleagues and clients, lost interest in your work, and brought office issues home without addressing them?

If you tick ‘yes’ to some or all of these, there is a high chance you are experiencing a quiet burnout of some sort.

While burnout – described as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress by the International Classification of Diseases – is well recognized, quiet burnout is less high-profile and takes longer to impact individuals.

Sufferers often play down the symptoms (mostly psychological) by maintaining a “business as usual” image and mindset. Some believe quiet burnout is just a passing mood, or attribute it to having a bad day, or days, but a denial stance will take a toll on mental and physical health.

An up-close and personal view of quiet burnout

This was the case with my father. At various times during his career, he suffered from work stress-related migraines that could leave him in bed for two days. At other times, he would vent to us about the things that upset him in the office – colleagues, projects, managers, and other issues. While it was painful to see, his experience made me aware, early on, of the importance of balance and perspective in life.

Buffering burnout

Although I haven’t always been successful in managing my work-life balance, I have avoided burnout by adopting a few personal best practices throughout my career.

Just as I visit a doctor for an annual physical, I also conduct a regular personal career “check-up” to see if my work-life balance and goals are relevant or in need of fine-tuning.

Conducting a regular review has never been more critical, as the winds of change are blowing stronger than ever today. The process can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be, but you should write down new goals and aspirations, and be disciplined to audit yourself every year.

If things are going well at work, you may not feel the need to do this; however, this is the fast track to falling into a comfort zone that will catch up with you. In the worst-case scenarios, I have coached clients who have come close to breaking down because rather than auditing themselves regularly, they let years of frustration and anxiety pile up until they reached a “code red” situation.

Beware the “sunk-cost fallacy” career trap

Another pathway to quiet burnout is falling into a “sunk cost fallacy” (SCF) career trap. SCF refers to a situation where a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that they should develop a plan B or C to advance.

For example, I have worked with highly skilled, competent colleagues who became so proficient in their job or area of expertise (and stayed in that lane) that it stifled their growth prospects, as they became perceived as experts in that specific area only. Like actors who are typecast, this image or reputation held them back from growth opportunities in other areas.

Avoiding the SCF career trap, in my opinion, requires an honest appraisal from the employee and their manager. A good manager, for instance, should be bold enough to advise employees to consider broadening their career horizons to avoid being typecast in the office. The employee, meanwhile, should also conduct an annual personal career review to identify new skills or opportunities that showcase their willingness to adapt and add new value to the company.

Bleeding for your company isn’t healthy

During my time at FedEx, a colleague praised one of his top employees by saying, “If she cut herself, she would bleed purple.”

I politely disagreed with him, saying that this was not a good thing. While commitment, dedication, and drive are essential to career success, it is unhealthy, in my view, to let your career and title become the “front and center” parts of your life.

You are on track for a quiet burnout for several reasons. Suppose your career plateaus or is impacted by external factors beyond your control (e.g., a recession, a company crisis). In that case, this can affect other aspects of your life because you have made work a significant part of your identity.

Be passionate, yes, but also know when to step back from company person when you are with family, friends, and strangers. Additionally, in my experience, no one has benefited from constantly thinking about work because there are other equally important things to consider, including physical and mental health.

If you are on the verge of burnout or want to adopt proactive measures to prevent it, please don’t hesitate to contact me using the contact bubble below. I have helped colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds reset and reestablish their work-life balance, and I can do the same for you.

My coaching is partnership-focused – working with you to turn reflection and visualization into meaningful change.