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Musings Report 2022-11 3-12-22 Why We Burn Out
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Why We Burn Out
As someone who has completely burned out twice (at age 33 and again at age 66), I've alert to any media coverage of burnout, which may well be a type of "silent epidemic" few follow or understand.
This recent article made some good points:
Do you feel burnt out? It’s not just about working too much: Our culture doesn’t understand burnout -- including the fact that we can get burnt out on a perfectly 'normal' 40-hour work week.
The article reminded me of a list (I cannot recall the source) of factors in work situations that reduce or accelerate burnout:
1. Is the workload sustainable?
2. Does the worker have choice and control over their work?
3. Does the worker receive recognition and rewards aligned to their output?
4. Is the workplace a supportive work community?
5. Is the workplace foster fairness and respect for every worker?
6. Are there clear values guiding meaningful work?
If all these factors are negative, then a "normal" 40-hour a week job is more than enough to burn people out.
Although the conventional view is that burnout is the result of overwork, this overlooks the great complexity of the rest of modern life outside work.
Work can be the least stressful part of one's life, a refuge from truly toxic sources of anxiety and stress.
While these factors are certainly consequential, I don't think they exhaust the causes of burnout.
Although it may well be obvious, certain personality types are prone to burning out while others are basically impervious to burnout.
The ambitious, driven, goal-oriented, perfectionist "Type A" personality is prone to burning out, while the laid-back, unambitious person with low expectations is far less likely to burn out.
One factor that few mention is the unambitious, laid-back, low expectations person may be comfortable with themselves as they are, while the ambitious, driven, perfectionist person may subconsciously feel their "real self" is unworthy and so they strive for an "external self" who is worthy because this self has gained recognition and success.
Children who grow up in households where the adults are too distracted by their own problems and insecurities to validate the child's thoughts, feelings, needs, interests, etc., and encourage the child's development.
The child naturally feels they are unworthy of love, nurturing and being cherished. This feels terrible so the child naturally thinks that if they can somehow project a "better" version of themselves, they'll be worthy of the affection, validation and attention they don't get at home.
This drive to project a self worthy of recognition and appreciation becomes the central focus of their lives.
Rather than accept the "real self's" insecurities and fears of being unworthy, the uncherished child devotes themselves to becoming worthy via accomplishment or by making a splash in whatever way they can: acting out, becoming the class clown, developing an athletic, academic or artistic skill, etc.
Failure in whatever way they've chosen to become worthy of recognition and respect is not just a failure in the endeavor--it's a deeply wounding failure of the "better self" who takes the place of the insecure, unworthy "real self" that was emotionally abandoned, abused or simply ignored.
No wonder the person is so driven to succeed and project a persona that's worthy of everything they didn't get as a child.
But propping up this "better self" is exhausting, and so the insecure, driven person burns out.
Alternatively, the insecure, driven person succeeds in becoming recognized as a success, and then discovers their victory is hollow. Being adored by others doesn't actually grant us inner security. We're still nagged by a feeling that our "real self" continues to be unworthy.
In my experience, burnout isn't simply overwork that can be cured by taking a few weeks off. It's an existential crisis that raises all the issues the burnout was avoiding as too painful and fearful to face.
In the conventional view, the goal is to get the burnout back in the saddle of overwork as soon as possible: set aside an hour a week for yourself, that should do it.
In my view, burnout out is a reckoning and a gift that can be rejected or accepted.
Highlights of the Blog
The Only Non-Totalitarian Solution to Resource Scarcity: Decentralized Degrowth 3/11/22
The Upside of a Crushing Recession 3/9/22
What If It Breaks? 3/7/22
Best Thing That Happened To Me This Week
Happened upon this photo of genius reading genius: Jimi Hendrix reading MAD magazine while having his hair done.
From Left Field
NOTE TO NEW READERS: This list is not comprised of articles I agree with or that I judge to be correct or of the highest quality. It is representative of the content I find interesting as reflections of the current zeitgeist. The list is intended to be perused with an open, critical, occasionally amused mind.
Why Civilizations Collapse
Animated Series -- Nate Hagens #1: Energy Blind
Your life and the economy depend on biodiversity
The End of the Megamachine (book)
NFTs Are, Quite Simply, Bulls***
Counting the neurological cost of COVID-19 (nature.com)
How Regular Exercise Restructures The Brain
I coined a term for these spurious stores of value — "INFLATION CAPACITORS." (twitter thread)
Far From Dying, the Coal Industry Is Actually Booming
How much does Spotify pay per stream? Streaming payouts comparison [2021]
Facebook’s Cryptocurrency Venture to Wind Down, Sell Assets
Philip K Dick: the writer who witnessed the future
"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it." Bruce Lee
Thanks for reading--
charles |
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