6 Causes of Burnout, and How to Avoid Them

Burnout can make you perpetually exhausted, annoyed, and feeling unaccomplished and unappreciated. And at extreme levels, it may mean you aren’t in the right job. How do you know when burnout is telling you to quit your job?

There are six key areas where you could experience imbalances that lead to burnout. First, your workload. Do you feel chronically feel overloaded, and do you have opportunities to rest and recover? Second, a perceived lack of control. Do you lack autonomy, access to resources, and a say in decisions? Third rewards. Do the extrinsic and intrinsic rewards for your job match the amount of effort and time you put in to them? Fourth, community. How supportive and trusting are the relationships around you? Fifth, fairness. Do you believe that you receive fair and equitable treatment? Finally, values. Do your values match those of your leaders and the company?

By understanding these causes of burnout and considering what you can do to make changes, you can come to a more objective conclusion about whether you can make it work — or if it’s time to leave.