Burnout in Men
Our brains are hardwired to approach life one scenario at a time, and there’s only so much attention we can give in a day. This worked great in simpler times when all we had to focus on was providing food, shelter and safety for our family.
But today, everyone has too much to do, too little time, too many demands, and endless to-do lists. We wear being busy as a badge of honour and assume something’s wrong if we’re not overworked or multi-tasking. So, it’s no wonder that burnout has evolved. It’s a relatively new phenomenon of modern society that’s typically associated with chronic work-related stress. It’s a state of complete emotional exhaustion that leaves us overwhelmed and unable to meet demands. Left unchecked, we become cynical, which takes over other aspects of our life and strains our relationships with friends and family.
Burnout can also impact our mental and physical health in the long term, and can eventually lead to depression, which is why it’s so important to learn how to cope with it. One of the most effective steps we can take is to reach out to a professional and start unburdening ourselves and our lives.
74%
In 2017, 74 percent of people felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.
– Mental Health Foundation
14%
14 percent of people feel chronically overwhelmed.
– Forbes
60%
60 percent of work absenteeism is attributable to burnout.
– Forbes
80%
Over 80 percent of men in the US work more than 40 hours a week.
– Cheatsheet.com
Male Burnout Symptoms
Burnout is a slow-burn, so to speak. It creeps up on men, with gradual symptoms that increase over time. These signs are red flags telling you that there’s something wrong with your situation and that it’s time to step back and assess your life.
- Feeling tired and drained
- Trouble focusing
- Chest pain, rapid heart rate
- Frequent colds or flu
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Feeling frozen or paralyzed
- Anxious, racing thoughts
- Depression or general unhappiness
- Decreased satisfaction in work
- Irritable, cynical
- Sense of failure
Break the stigma
You are enough