b'BURNOUT BUSTERSThe World Health Organization defines burnout as a phenomenon driven by chronic, unmanaged stress. According to a SmartBrief article by former FBI agent Larae Quy, some of the most prominent signs of burnout include energy depletion, mental detachment, negativity, reduced efficacy, and cynicism. In spite of the recent attention to the condition, it takes more than yoga, meditation apps, or gym memberships to resolve the issues. A 2018 Mayo Clinic study showed the overall burnout rate among the general U.S. workforce landed at 28 percent. Four years later, a global survey of workers across multiple industries and companies showed those numbers had almost doubled.Research identifies six leading causes for burnout: 1. Workload 4. Community 2. Control 5. Fairness 3. Reward 6. Values Over the next several issues of Instigate, well look at practical ways Quy suggests to avoid burnout when dealing with each of these six areas. First, lets look at an unsustainable workload. Research from Gallup indicates that burnout increases significantly when an employees workweek averages more than 50 hours and rises even more substantially at 60 hours. These three skills can help you deal with an unsustainable workload: Awareness. Time is a limited resource, and you cant do everything and still be at your best. Sometimes you need to suggest a raincheck for when your schedule has more room.Arrangement. Write down priorities for the day and week. A todo list frees up your brain to work on more complex issues.Adaptation. List and prioritize your tasks and activities. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 49'