“I am sick to death of the ridiculous situations I have to deal with at work. The pettiness, the politics, the stupidity — it’s out of control. This kind of thing stresses me out to the max.”
Prevent Burnout by Making Compassion a Habit
Burnout seems to be on the rise. More and more people are feeling emotionally exhausted and cynical as a result of chronic and acute work-related stress. But many people are in the same boat and don’t get burned out. Why? They practice self-compassion and empathy. To manage work-related stress and prevent it from leading to burnout, practice self-compassion. Then, you will be ready to change some of your habitual ways of dealing with people so you — and they — can benefit from your empathy. Self-compassion involves seeking to truly understand yourself and what you are experiencing emotionally, physically, and intellectually at work; caring for yourself (as opposed to shutting down); and acting to do something to help yourself. You can practice self-compassion by curbing your urge to overwork (it just leads to more stress!) and not beating yourself up. Instead of letting self-criticism stress you out, acknowledge how you feel, acknowledge that others would likely feel similar in the same situation, and be kind and forgiving to yourself. This will prepare you emotionally to reach out to others. You can make empathy part of your normal way of dealing with people at work by building friendships with people you like at work and listening to people with an open mind. Studies have also shown that coaching people has positive psychophysiological effects that restore the body’s natural healing and growth processes, and improves stamina. Lastly, if you’re clashing with coworkers, consider putting your customers, clients, or patients at the center of your discussions. Try physically moving your conversations to a place where you focus on other people’s needs rather than your own.