Let’s Hop Off That Burnout Train — Together!
It seems like everyone could use a mental health break. Tensions are high everywhere you go – EVERYONE is on edge. Indeed released a study in April 2021 and shared that 52% of respondents were experiencing burnout. That number was up almost 10% from a pre-pandemic study. In APRIL! I’m sure that number has just gone up in the last six months.
I talked to some friends the other night – their workplaces did not close during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their jobs couldn’t be switched to remote work – and they were both talking about how exhausting work has been for them. It’s almost like this year has been worse than the last, and in some ways, it has been.
After my conversation that night, I started thinking. What can we do for the people who haven’t gotten a break since before the pandemic? The ones who’ve worked extra hours to make up for short-staffing? The managers working day and night to hire & staff their stores? The ones who are burnt the f*ck out?
Well, there’s no “golden solution.” I’m sorry. It will never be a “one size fits all.” We ARE human, after all.
I will, however, leave you with some tips that I know will help your team alleviate their stress – even with it seems like the world is deteriorating around them (and us).
1. Have Grace. Cut your team some slack if they have a bad day or come in a little late – just don’t let them make a habit out of it. Every industry is having a hard time holding things together, and it has affected many different parts of our lives in ways we never expected. These hiccups in our daily lives have a habit of affecting our work, have grace. We all experience burnout, and sometimes talking it out can help overcome some of the adverse effects.
2. Give Them Time. Every store I’ve been to in the last four months is understaffed; it’s the name of the game now. I know it’s not possible to give your team all their vacation time right now, but mental health is critical in their ability to do good work, and without time off, some of your team may reach their breaking point. Even if it’s just a few hours – give them time.
3. Bring Them Together. If you have a few employees experiencing burnout, it may help to schedule them to work together. Just having the experience of a few good employees can help the entire workday go by smoothly and without added stress. Plus, they can lend each other an ear to help talk through their burnout.
4. Celebrate Them. Bonuses are ALWAYS a great way to show your employees you appreciate them, but I encourage you to celebrate them beyond cash bonuses. You could send a weekly email celebrating members of your team that exceeded expectations or worked extra hours, give gift cards or provide meals for your team, too.
5. Promote Self-Care. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to help your team alleviate their burnout. It costs nothing to promote leading healthy lifestyles. Encouraging your team to eat well, rest, and have a life outside of work is just as rewarding for you as it is for them. Want to take it a step further? Provide free introductory workout classes or resources for healthy living for your team – many local gyms have resources for businesses that are low-cost.
I hope you take some of these tips and use them to help make things a little easier for your team (and yourself). Oh yeah, don’t forget to give YOURSELF grace, too.
We’ll get through this soon - even faster together 😉
