The Great Burnout Epidemic
Summary: In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer Moss, while authoring her book "The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It", found herself navigating the challenges of work-life balance. Moss notes the unchanging expectations despite altering realities. In a conversation about burnout, she recalls her article, "When Passion Leads to Burnout", which criticized the misleading perception that loving one's job exempts them from burnout. Moss highlights that an "obsessive passion" for work can overshadow personal life, leading to exhaustion and declining performance. She lists the signs of burnout: energy depletion, increased detachment from job responsibilities, and diminished work efficiency. Central causes include excessive workload, lack of control, and misaligned values. Moss emphasizes the significance of leaders in ensuring employee well-being, indicating that solutions must be institutionalized and not merely addressed through short-term remedies like yoga. She warns of the increasing addiction to technology, exacerbated by the pandemic, making people more accessible and amplifying the burnout risk. Moss recommends setting personal work boundaries and refocusing on what truly matters in life. Drawing from her research, she suggests that a large proportion of employees worldwide feel their work environment has worsened. Concluding her insights, Moss advises individuals to balance their work passion and avoid letting it become all-consuming.