Burnout
From sun up to sun down, a farmer’s life is busy doing this and that and going here and there. Unlike someone with a 9 to 5 job, a farmer can’t easily hang their hat at the end of the day because farming is a lifestyle, and your family might also be your employees. Sometimes, we get too busy and forget to take a step back and rest. That’s when burnout can occur. Burnout happens when we feel physically exhausted and over-extended, really cynical and pessimistic, and we’re not doing a good job keeping up with the constant demands.
WHAT IS BURNOUT?
Burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. Excessive emotional, physical and mental stress can make us feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to keep up with life’s demands.
Burnout is more than just stress; it results from too much stress. People with burnout are more susceptible to the cold and flu, and not addressing it can set you on a path that leads to a breakdown.
What to Watch Out For
Burnout isn’t something that suddenly happens. It grows slowly over time from the stressors and demands of work, making the symptoms more difficult to notice. Many burnout symptoms can feel like symptoms of stress, but there are three ways to differentiate them:
Feeling physically tired and emotionally drained
Becoming pessimistic and cynical about work and cold toward others
Feeling unable to do the job and starting to doubt the worth of what they do
CAUSES OF BURNOUT
Burnout isn’t just a result of working long hours or juggling too much, although those do play a role. Burnout often happens when a person isn’t in control of certain aspects of their job or how the work is carried out. Some of the more common causes of burnout include:
Managing heavy workloads
Feeling like you’re being mistreated at work
Having to follow new rules and regulations
Dealing with unexpected equipment failures
Facing immense deadline pressures
What Can You Do
Burnout isn’t a medical condition that can be diagnosed, it’s important that you understand what burnout is and how it can creep up on you -- especially during those busy times of the year like harvest. Here are a few things you can do:
Reach out to others instead of withdrawing. We must have a robust social network to call on people to talk to when we are going through difficult times at work. Those ‘water cooler moments’ at work are more important than you think.
Find something in your work that you find interesting and helps you renew your sense of purpose and value.
Finish something that you’ve been meaning to get to -- nothing too big, just a task that lets you check off something from today’s to-do list and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Watch that you don’t increase your alcohol or coffee intake, as these can affect your mood if consumed excessively and make you feel more sluggish.
AgKnow is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis, please visit your local emergency department or call 911. If you are experiencing depression and need support, many treatments are available for you.
Resources for BURNOUT
Article by Dr Rebecca Purc-Stephenson
Applied Social Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Social Sciences
BOOKING AN AGKNOW SESSION
CHOOSE A THERAPIST
The members in our referral network have experience with farmers and the agriculture industry in Alberta. We know context is important so you can spend less time getting them up to speed and more time getting to the root of the issue.
SCHEDULE A CALL
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TALK ABOUT IT
Whether in person, virtual or through a telephone session now is your chance to talk about how you are really doing. Remember - we were never meant to do this alone.
