The signs and science of burnout
Employee burnout is rising at an alarming rate across many fields. In libraries, staff often face added unique challenges that contribute to workplace pressure and make the need for support even more pressing. To respond to these increased demands, WebJunction created From Burnout to Balance, a self-paced course that can help learners identify burnout causes, manage stress, and boost emotional resilience.
Signs of burnout
The World Health Organization defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Common signs of burnout include low morale, anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and physical symptoms such as exhaustion, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems.
In the interactive video below, push play to view the features, and flip each card or graphic to learn more about symptoms of burnout. Select fullscreen mode for an optimized experience. Use the settings icon for accessible text options and keyboard shortcuts.
Science of burnout
Research shows that burnout can have physical effects on the brain, including disruption of the neuroendocrine system, altered neural circuits, and changes in the amygdala and hippocampus. These parts of the brain are related to emotional regulation, working memory, and problem-solving skills. These changes show that the brain is in survival mode. Acknowledging the impact of chronic stress on the brain can help emphasize the need for burnout prevention and support in our workplaces.
In the interactive graphic below, push the play button to view the features, and use the blue slider to learn more about the science of burnout. Select fullscreen mode for an optimized experience. Use the settings icon for accessible text options and keyboard shortcuts.
Learn more about the course
Burnout can affect anyone, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Addressing and preventing burnout is a team effort, and this course offers tools and resources to help inform your team’s approach. Library leadership will find tools to help promote teamwork, communication, and mutual support in the workplace, and frontline staff will discover tools to build resilience, and focus on self-care and burnout prevention. The course also includes a group activities guide for teams who want to work through the content together and adapt it to their own needs.