Posted on May 14, 2016
Kevlar for the Mind: 4 signs you're burned out
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Making a career in the military is no easy feat. The days are long and the stress is severe and ongoing. Pile on multiple deployments, 0400 accountability formations and toxic leaders, and you've got yourself a recipe for professional burnout.
Professional burnout is more than just job stress. It is a state of psychological, physical and mental fatigue that's not relieved by a three-day weekend. In addition to feeling worn out, a person experiencing burnout will feel like what they do doesn't matter. They also have a reduced sense of personal worth.
Professional burnout is not a problem only for health care providers, teachers or police officers. It is a relatively common occurrence that cuts across all professions and work settings. Considering that the military is a microcosm of the larger vocational society, virtually everyone in the military is at risk.
As with most problems in life the first step is to gain awareness. In keeping with this reality, below are four signs that you may be on the verge of or experiencing professional burnout.
1. You have a difficult time focusing in meetings. Your mind can wander for a variety of reasons; you may be preoccupied with stress at home or you didn't get enough sleep the night before. Or, it may be a sign that you have lost interest in your work and are in the throes of professional burnout.
2. You call in sick more frequently. If you find yourself making more visits to sick call or taking off early because you don't feel well, it may be a sign that you hate your job. Research shows that an increase in sick days correlates with job stress and burnout.
3. You are more frustrated and impatient with your subordinates. In reality there are just some subordinates you don't like as much as others. As a leader you still try to educate, protect and mentor them, but for some reason you get annoyed every time they come around. You also become frustrated and impatient when you have to show them how to do something or when they ask for help. These are signs that your work is no longer satisfying for you.
4. You are depressed. Even though as a service member you are more resilient than the average civilian, you can succumb to the blues from time to time like everyone else. If you find yourself in a dark place consider how your work may be contributing to your mood. However, burnout is only one possibility. Depression has many causes.
Professional burnout is a serious side effect of serving in the military. In order to meet the needs of your troops as well as your own needs, be on the lookout for burnout. If you see it, talk with a leader your respect and trust, a chaplain or a peer.
Professional burnout is more than just job stress. It is a state of psychological, physical and mental fatigue that's not relieved by a three-day weekend. In addition to feeling worn out, a person experiencing burnout will feel like what they do doesn't matter. They also have a reduced sense of personal worth.
Professional burnout is not a problem only for health care providers, teachers or police officers. It is a relatively common occurrence that cuts across all professions and work settings. Considering that the military is a microcosm of the larger vocational society, virtually everyone in the military is at risk.
As with most problems in life the first step is to gain awareness. In keeping with this reality, below are four signs that you may be on the verge of or experiencing professional burnout.
1. You have a difficult time focusing in meetings. Your mind can wander for a variety of reasons; you may be preoccupied with stress at home or you didn't get enough sleep the night before. Or, it may be a sign that you have lost interest in your work and are in the throes of professional burnout.
2. You call in sick more frequently. If you find yourself making more visits to sick call or taking off early because you don't feel well, it may be a sign that you hate your job. Research shows that an increase in sick days correlates with job stress and burnout.
3. You are more frustrated and impatient with your subordinates. In reality there are just some subordinates you don't like as much as others. As a leader you still try to educate, protect and mentor them, but for some reason you get annoyed every time they come around. You also become frustrated and impatient when you have to show them how to do something or when they ask for help. These are signs that your work is no longer satisfying for you.
4. You are depressed. Even though as a service member you are more resilient than the average civilian, you can succumb to the blues from time to time like everyone else. If you find yourself in a dark place consider how your work may be contributing to your mood. However, burnout is only one possibility. Depression has many causes.
Professional burnout is a serious side effect of serving in the military. In order to meet the needs of your troops as well as your own needs, be on the lookout for burnout. If you see it, talk with a leader your respect and trust, a chaplain or a peer.
Kevlar for the Mind: 4 signs you're burned out
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Transition
Leadership
Transition Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
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Thanks for highlighting professional burnout SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
The signs you mentioned also are indicative of mental illness. I have one adult son who has had psychotic tendencies including manic-depressive episodes.
1. You have a difficult time focusing in meetings.
2. You call in sick more frequently.
3. You are more frustrated and impatient with your subordinates.
4. You are depressed.
Burn out can come from any sources including taking too much on at work or play [drugs and alcohol].
Some burn out is treatable while other burn out leads to death.
The signs you mentioned also are indicative of mental illness. I have one adult son who has had psychotic tendencies including manic-depressive episodes.
1. You have a difficult time focusing in meetings.
2. You call in sick more frequently.
3. You are more frustrated and impatient with your subordinates.
4. You are depressed.
Burn out can come from any sources including taking too much on at work or play [drugs and alcohol].
Some burn out is treatable while other burn out leads to death.
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MSG Floyd Williams
The buddy system should be used to support each other to decrease a possible burnout.
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I know for a fact I am getting burnt out, however, within the military I feel there is nothing that can be done. I pride myself on being a family man, but at the same time have always wanted to contribute something to my country and to the military. I as a Cyber professional kept looking for that next fix and next challenge, when I finally thought I found it. A new MOS, a new challenge, and something fun. Then the Army took it and ruined it. I strive to be the best especially in cyber it is the one area of my military career I have been determined to be the best there is. However, when you get told you can't follow through on the plans you had because your not going to the units where cyber is what they do, but to another unit, you lose faith. I have become depressed and lost since I consistently feel like I can provide nothing and/or am bored with the work I do since I did for years before I even took my new MOS. This isn't the first time I have fallen victim to the numbers game and the politics that is the military but I have always had hope that one day I would get there. One day I would be able to take that which I am passionate about and give back to the Army. Alas, that day has not come and honestly I feel like the Army could care less about what skills you have, it is only about your PT Score, and do you live and breathe Soldier, your skillset is irrelevant.
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MSG Floyd Williams
SSG Derek Scheller - This is probably where you're needed the most at the moment, it will be more experience under your belt in the future added to your resume.
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SSG Derek Scheller
MSG Floyd Williams - I understand that but it's being in a 25B role that's bothersome you know.
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MSG Floyd Williams
SSG Derek Scheller - I understand, but you will benefit from it just hold on a little while longer.
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Wow! A very good description of burnout. I facilitated a Self- Nurture Workshop that touched on burnout. I went over techniques to defeat it.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CSM (Join to see) I am retired, although I work with the United States Navy as a DOD Contractor. I see it all the time and encourage the Seabees/Sailors to lower the anchor and get some needed help.
BLUF:
Professional burnout is a serious side effect of serving in the military. In order to meet the needs of your troops as well as your own needs, be on the lookout for burnout. If you see it, talk with a leader your respect and trust, a chaplain or a peer.
BLUF:
Professional burnout is a serious side effect of serving in the military. In order to meet the needs of your troops as well as your own needs, be on the lookout for burnout. If you see it, talk with a leader your respect and trust, a chaplain or a peer.
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SSG Vik Polivka
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - Pre-workout (Mr Hyde), hydroxycut, redbull, coffee, about a pack a day, and a slew of prescriptions help.
It may be an untenable solution, though effective for your 50m target.
It may be an untenable solution, though effective for your 50m target.
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