Mid-year Burnout

Mid-year Burnout

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased incidence of mental health issues such as anxiety, panic attacks and burnout (Brooks et al., 2020; Tandon, 2020). Burnout is a syndrome characterized by loss of energy caused by long term chronic stress, including emotional fatigue, overload/exhaustion, loss of motivation and commitment after prolonged exposure to high occupational stress and poor view of one’s self-competence (Awa et al., 2010; Gerber et al., 2013).

Burnout and Students

Burnout is associated with depressive symptoms such as loss of interest and difficulty concentrating (Koutsimani et al., 2019). Burnout is indicated by persistent feelings of being overwhelmed with an inability to cope (Ingram, 2020). Although burnout may affect anyone, it commonly occurs in university students, especially graduate students. Burnout is prevalent among ambitious students and psychologists (Ingram, 2020). A 2012 study of psychology graduate students found that seventy per cent of participants experienced stressors of such significance that their daily functioning was impaired (El-Ghoroury et al., 2012).  Psychology graduate students reported that academic marks, student debt, balancing work/school life, and general anxiety were the most common stressors in their daily life.

Mid-year Burnout

Mid-year burnout indicates exhaustion following the first six months of the year (Sharkey, 2019). Although individuals at risk of burnout might acknowledge their achievements during the first half of the year, imposter syndrome may cause feelings of underachievement and cause individuals to push themselves even harder to compensate for what they have not achieved (Sharkey, 2019). The World Health Organisation (WHO) classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon related to work (including studies), where chronic work stress is not managed, resulting in the syndrome (Sharkey, 2019).

Effects of Exercise

Research has documented the link between high levels of exercise and decreased levels of perceived stress. For instance, frequent leisure-time physical activity acts as a buffer and protects against impaired health when individuals are exposed to high-stress demands (Gerber & Puhse, 2009). Regular exercise has copious amounts of biopsychosocial benefits. For instance, regular physical exercise is a prophylactic agent and a therapeutic aid due to the extensive physical and mental health benefits as it assists in reducing anxiety and depression, increasing the production of feel-good chemicals and improving self-image and self-confidence (Mohammed, 2016).

The recommended amount of exercise in which an adult (aged between 18-64 years old) should participate to experience the benefits of exercise include:

• In a week, an individual should participate in approximately two and a half hours of aerobic exercise of moderate-intensity (WHO, 2016).
• In a week, an individual should participate in at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise (WHO, 2016).
• An equivalent amount of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity (WHO, 2016).
• It is also recommended that an individual participates in muscle-strengthening exercises on two or more days a week (WHO, 2016).

Tips for managing burnout include:

• Planning and setting realistic goals into manageable chunks
• Activities that previously provided enjoyment and planning or finding relaxation time
• Being optimistic by not only focusing on the negatives and breaking “all-or-nothing” thinking patterns
• Seeking help and reaching out.

Helpline numbers:

• Dr. Reddy’s Helpline: 0800 21 22 23
• Cipla 24hr Mental Health Helpline: 0800 456 789
• Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline: 0800 70 80 90
• Suicide Crisis Line 0800 567 567
• Cipla Whatsapp Chat Line (9 am-4 pm, seven days a week)
• SADAG (for depression and anxiety): 0800 20 50 26

 [1] Authors write in their capacity as the Chairperson and Secretary of the PsySSA Student Division’s Media and Marketing Subcommittee. The Student Division is a division of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA).

References

Awa, W. L., Plaumann, M., & Walter, U. (2010). Burnout prevention: A review of intervention programs. Patient education and counselling, 78(2), 184-190.

Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet.

El-Ghoroury, N. H., Galper, D. I., Sawaqdeh, A., & Bufka, L. F. (2012). Stress, coping, and barriers to wellness among psychology graduate students. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 6(2), 122–134. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028768

Gerber, M., Brand, S., Elliot, C., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., Pühse, U., & Beck, J. (2013). Aerobic exercise training and burnout: a pilot study with male participants suffering from burnout. BMC research notes, 6(1), 1-9.

Gerber, M., & Pühse, U. (2009). Do exercise and fitness protect against stress-induced health complaints? A review of the literature. Scandinavian journal of public health, 37(8), 801-819.

Ingram, S. (2020). Prevention corner: Preventing burnout in psychology graduate students and professionals. The Group Psychologist. https://www.apadivisions.org/division-49/publications/newsletter/group-psychologist/2020/04/preventing-burnout

Koutsimani P, Montgomery A and Georganta K (2019) The Relationship Between Burnout, Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front. Psychol. 10:284. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00284

Mohammed, A. (2016). Benefits, need and importance of daily exercise. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health. 3(5). 22-27.

Sharkey, L. (2019). If You’re Experiencing Burnout In The Summer, This Could Be The Reason Why. https://www.bustle.com/p/what-is-mid-year-burnout-workplace-exhaustion-may-hit-some-harder-during-the-summer-18195721

Tandon, R. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic, personal reflections on editorial responsibility. Asian journal of psychiatry, 50, 102100.

World Health Organization (Regional office for Europe) WHO. Reviewed on 12 July 2016.