Burnout is a kind of job depression and is a motivational problem. A person struggling with burnout is demotivated, dispirited, depressed - DOWN.  The person caught up in the burnout cycle finds it more and more difficult to perform and increasingly dreads going to work.

Burnout is caused by feelings of uncontrollability. Powerlessness, damned-if-you-do damned-if-you-don't situations. Long hours, per se, don’t cause burnout – but overwork that is unappreciated and underpaid in which a person feels trapped or ineffective can be very devastating to motivation. Once motivation is damaged it is very hard to rekindle. Burnout is overcome/prevented by developing feelings of control over the job - which is an on-going process.

It is vitally important to analyze what is getting you down about your current job before seeking a new one.  If you don't, you could get yourself into a worse situation. When you clearly pinpoint the problems in the current job, then - before - leaving, it is better to attempt to improve the current job.  If that doesn't work, perhaps you can make a lateral move within the company.  You are more valuable to the current company because you know how "things work around here". And, more importantly, you are not going without a job and without a pay check.

If you do determine that you need to move on - don't just quit. It easier to get a new job when you already have a job.  As soon as you are unemployed - even if it is by design - you are less desirable and a little suspicious - i.e., if you are so great why are you without a job?!!

Developing a sense of “personal power” or “controllability” is essential for preventing or overcoming burnout. Changing jobs is one possibility, but it should not be the first option. It is all to easy to get fed up and quit. However, doing so does not identify what the specific factors in the job were getting you down. You may leap from the pan into the fire and get yourself into an even worse situation. Also, you are more attractive to employers when you have a job, than when you are unemployed.

Before simply quitting, it is better to attempt to make changes in the job and if that fails, try to make a lateral move within the company.

Click here to find out other burnout symptoms: http://www.docpotter.com/BeaJob__sympt.html

Copyright: 2009 Beverly A. Potter