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Burnout happens at all career stages, from entry level to C-suite, but the cause looks different at each level. Entry-level talent endures unique challenges that don’t affect senior leadership the same way. Here is how burnout happens in early talent, and steps you can take to avoid it.
The Hustle Trap
When starting a new role, it’s easy to feel like you need to prove yourself. This can cause you to be overly ambitious and work harder than necessary with the goal of establishing your reputation as a successful and qualified professional. This concept isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it becomes problematic when your work habits aren’t sustainable. Working long hours every now and then is fine when the project calls for it, but making this your baseline will lead to burnout. Your professional career is a marathon. In order to continue showing up and performing, you need to set a pace that won’t run your battery dry after the first couple of months.
It’s also important to place more emphasis on your output than your input. The number of hours you put in each week matters less than the impact your project has on the business. There is a benefit to slowing down and fully thinking through your strategy instead of trying to get tasks done as fast as possible. Utilize your skills and critical thinking to produce the best product, not the quickest one.
You’re Allowed to Say No
When you’re trying to prove yourself at a new workplace, it’s common to feel like you have to say “yes” to every project presented to you. While you want to be a team player and should take on the tasks that you reasonably can, you also need to be honest about your bandwidth. If you don’t have the time in your day to take on a new project, or if you’re already overwhelmed with what is on your plate, you’re allowed to say “no” without it hurting your reputation. Being upfront about the fact that you can’t take on anything new at the moment is better than trying to do more and ending up with a poor-quality product.
Communication Boundaries
Feeling like you consistently need to be available to answer messages at any time of day (or night) is a fast track to burnout. Making sure you have a good work/life balance involves knowing when to unplug. If you have your email or Slack messages on your cell phone, set a specific time in which you won’t respond to messages. You can even set a focus mode on your cell phone so you won’t even see the notifications until you choose to. You’re allowed to have a life outside of work, so setting this boundary won’t hurt you professionally at a healthy workplace. The messages will be there in the morning when you are ready to tackle them.
Company Resources
There is an adjustment period that happens when you start your first corporate role. If you find yourself really struggling to balance your workload or you’re experiencing burnout, look into the resources available at your company. Most companies have an Employee Assistance Program, which can provide support and free counseling sessions. Some companies also offer subscriptions to wellbeing apps like Calm or Headspace. Sometimes attending a company happy hour or event can help you build a community that you can rely on when times are tough. Whatever your specific case may be, explore the different resources your company has available.
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