Should we be taking burnout more seriously?

Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part series.

A person who once found excitement in their profession becomes disengaged. They are on edge, particularly with coworkers. Tasks are taking longer to complete and they can’t seem to stay on track. They look physically tired. They are late for work and call in sick frequently. Their work ethic has tanked. Should you be annoyed or worried?

About two-thirds of full-time workers report regular symptoms of burnout, according to a 2018 Gallup study. Symptoms include: cynicism about work or the profession in general, irritability with workmates, extreme lack of energy, inability to complete tasks, lack of concentration at work, using food, alcohol, or drugs to cope, and unexplained physical issues such as headaches, body aches, stomach and bowel problems.

In a recent Washington Post article, author Jenny Rough made the following comment: “Burnout is a term easily tossed around, the way somebody might claim to be starving when they’re simply hungry, or freezing when cold. That’s harmless if a person is describing a tired day or week. But somebody who is actually burned out should be prepared to take serious action because it’s a condition that needs attention.”

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It can be debilitating. Sufferers may experience chest pain, dizziness, mental collapses, anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, anger, heart disease, high blood pressure, low immunity, and even loss of employment and relationship issues. The World Health Organ-ization recognized the prevalence of the condition in May 2019, initially classifying it as an “occupational phenomenon.”

Burnout is different from the kind of work-related stress that affects us all. Stock brokers and washed up rock stars aren’t the typical candidates. Rather, it is most common in care givers and social service professionals. It’s not a symptom of a generation who are too in touch with their own feelings to understand what real work is. It doesn’t go away after a massage or vacation. In fact, research shows that overall burnout can be rather stable, persisting for years, even a decade or more.

A heavy work load is not necessarily a tip off. Mayo Clinic points to the following as the primary contributors:

- Lack of control

- Unclear job expectations

- Dysfunctional workplace dynamics

- Extremes of activity; frequent shifts from boredom to chaos

- Lack of social support

- Work-life imbalance

If you are starting to relate to some of these tendencies, Rough’s comment above may be directed to you. What can you do if you are starting to notice symptoms of burnout?

It is interesting to note that self-care is commonly touted as the antidote to burnout, but most of the contributors listed above point, at least partially, to external causes. Some organizations are beginning to take responsibility for their part by educating employees about burnout, assessing its prevalence in their organizations, and implementing changes in company culture to alleviate it.

But, that doesn’t relieve the individual of responsibility. We may have a predisposition toward being a productivity monger, an imbalanced passion for our work, or an inability to set proper boundaries for ourselves. Even if the internal culture or leadership of our workplace is flawed, perhaps we are doing nothing to try to address or change it.

We may feel that we have little power to alleviate the external factors, but burnout is not inevitable. Research points to specific behaviors that have been shown to prevent overall burnout and reduce painful early symptoms.

In the next article, I’ll share some specific ways The Library can help you to address burnout before it causes irreversible damage.

The following classes and events take place at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar Street, unless otherwise noted.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

- Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Fridays — M.A.C. (Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., Room 102. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information, 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturdays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Monday, Jan 20 — Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

- Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay and play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays ­— Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions); 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Under 10 must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Beading, 3:30 p.m., in Karen’s Room. Come make a beaded bracelet. Registration required for this free workshop for kids. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, Jan. 21 — ASL Participatory Performance, Harriet Tubman, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Community Room 102. This standalone workshop will involve a participatory performance using ASL and based on the song, Harriet Tubman by Holly Near. Open to anyone regardless of level. For more information, contact Susan Schaller at susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Wednesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesdays — Storytime, 11:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-6. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesday, Jan. 22 — Chinese New Year Celebration of the “Year of the Rat,” 2:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. Make a rat-themed craft and learn about rats. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 4 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops as space allows. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, Jan. 22 — 3D Printing Community, 4:30-6 p.m. in the computer area. Drop in the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month if you’re interested in 3D printing. Collaborate with others or learn more from staff about 3D printing and design. Some computer space will be reserved for the program. Open to all ages and skill levels. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1251.

- Thursday, Jan. 23 — Let’s Talk About It: Our Earth, Our Ethics, noon-1 p.m. in the Innovia Foundation Community Room B. “Let’s Talk About It” involves book reading and discussions that include a presentation by, and interaction with, a program scholar. This month’s reading is “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold. Books are available by calling the Information Desk at 208-263-6930. If there are no books left, the audiobook version is available through RB Digital in our Digital Library. More information: 208-265-2665.

- Saturday, Jan. 25 — Family Virtual Reality Day, 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m., in VR room. Reserve a 30-minute session with your family or small group of friends in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Info: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.?• Saturday, Jan. 25 — ASL Participatory Performance, Harriet Tubman; 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the East Bonner County Library District. Information: susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Kids and Families Winter Reading Challenge — Register at ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for the second of three winter reading challenges. Our second challenge is a nationwide winter challenge sponsored by Beanstack (our online reading platform) and Penguin Random House. High participation from the communtiy could earn the library a visit from kids’ author Max Brailler or other prizes from the publisher. In addition to helping the library compete nationally, kids will win free books and chances to win robots, while adults will earn chances to win free groceries. This challenge runs from January 1-31. A third challenge will follow in February. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Teen Winter Reading Challenge — Runs through Feb 29. Fun new format and great prizes. Visit ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for more information and to register. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Rotary Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., and Fridays, 2-5 p.m. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org, or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “Baking Day at Grandma’s,” by Anika Denise at Dover City Park and “Cat Knit,” by Jacob Grant at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.