Psychiatrist highlights three warning signs of employee burnout
Dr Adhitya S Ramadianto, a psychiatrist from the National General Hospital Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM), has highlighted the warning signs of employees beginning to experience burnout or work-related exhaustion.
Speaking in Jakarta, Adhitya explained that the signs of burnout are generally divided into three major symptoms, the first being emotional exhaustion. This condition causes an individual to feel as though their energy is drained the moment they wake up and remember the work awaiting them. “Having no energy, not wanting to get up, preferring to close one’s eyes again. By the time they reach the workplace, they are already imagining when they can go home,” Adhitya explained regarding the common signs of burnout found in workers.
This sense of fatigue is disproportionate to the actual workload, meaning an individual feels more exhausted than the tasks they are facing would warrant. As a result of this exhaustion, a person tends to be not fully present; in service roles, for instance, they may view the people they serve merely as tasks to be completed quickly. This exhaustion can manifest as a lack of friendliness. “It may not be due to malicious intent, but rather that their energy is depleted, leaving only enough to complete their tasks as best they can,” Adhitya noted.
The third symptom is prolonged fatigue that leads workers to focus only on completing tasks as a bare minimum. Once the work is finished, the worker often fails to feel any sense of achievement or satisfaction in the results. This condition, known as a lack of personal achievement, can lead to increasing discomfort over time. “We have worked several hours in the office or at the workplace, but upon returning home, we only feel the exhaustion, without feeling that we have gained anything—be it professional rewards, money, financial compensation, or the sense of having achieved something,” Adhitya explained.
To reduce burnout, Adhitya suggested implementing work-life balance and ‘quiet living’—a lifestyle that prioritises tranquillity. The effectiveness of recovery depends heavily on the chosen method and the underlying issue. For example, if someone has just passed through a very intense period of work, taking a holiday could be an option to restore energy and rest. However, if burnout arises because they have been placed in a role that does not match their skills, the solution is not merely rest. The individual may need to develop or learn the necessary skills to perform tasks more effectively or even negotiate with the company regarding their competencies.