Five Acts to Resist Burnout Today

“Fixing” workplace stress is not a simple task. But we do have personal agency.

When it comes to burnout, some things are in your control, and some things aren’t. We can’t “end” the pandemic, for example — Covid is endemic now, and it’s been exhausting. I’ve written before about how burnout is a structural problem, and it is. If those structures don’t change, we will continue to experience injuries to our mental health in our workplaces. So part of burnout prevention is advocating for workplace conditions that are better for everyone’s well-being. Unfortunately, we may have to wait for the outcomes of our advocacy to come into effect. When it comes to well-being, we can’t wait. So where do we, as individuals, have agency to improve our well-being right now?

1. Complete your stress cycle DURING your work day. Don’t wait until you get home. If the stressor caused an emotional injury in your work day, then healing from it is work. Try any form of movement like walking around the block, shaking your body for 3–5 minutes, or dancing to Whitney Houston’s Dance With Somebody (a personal fave). You could also try a 20-second hug with anyone you’re comfortable enough with. My final idea is to do something playful, even childish, especially with colleagues. Maybe a quick “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes”? (Read more about the stress cycle in Burnout by the Nagoskis)