Burnout is the omnipresent millennial boogeyman—except, you know, real. It's looming in dark corners of your office, hiding behind your sad desk lunch. More women than ever are hitting the wall at young ages (we're talking in your 30s), which, according to a new review in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, means facing "exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy."
Yikes, but oh-so-relatable.
People tend to focus what little energy they do have on their jobs, leading to strained personal relationships outside of the workplace.
The review looks at the last 40 years of research and confirms a few things you already knew—namely that women experience more workplace stress than men do. The study takes an in-depth look at the phenomenon and is a window to understanding and fending off the prospects of the career nightmare.
Here are the three science-backed facts you need to know about burnout.
1. It affects women more than men
Aside from experiencing higher levels of stress in the workplace, women are also faced with the "double burdens" of both their home and work life, Thrive Global reports. (Thanks, patriarchy!) Researchers found evidence that these pressures and negative events (both professionally and personally) cause women to experience significant exhaustion and cynicism—an effect not found in men.
2. It begins at home
The overwhelming demands of your job can exhaust you, leading to grumpiness and dissatisfaction that seeps into your personal life. Said personal life grumpiness can then exacerbate job burnout. And as it turns out, the research says, the first signs are likely to show up outside of work. People tend to focus what little energy they do have on their jobs, leading to strained personal relationships outside of the workplace.
3. Socializing can help
Looks like those post-work happy hours might actually be blessings in disguise. People who exhibited lower levels of social withdrawal had lower levels of burnout. Another reason to cherish and prioritize your friends—especially those Slack buddies who get you through your weekdays.
Another sneaky side effect of workplace stress or burnout: hair loss. Avoid it by practicing this habit, and check out these 5 tips if you have a career and a side hustle.
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