Five Signs Your Work Burnout Is Actually A 'Competence Hangover'
Additional comment provided by Peter Duris, CEO of Kickresume.
Burnout is alarmingly common in UK workplaces. It’s expected to affect about 65% of workers (20% of employees have taken time off for work-related stress).
That can be caused by high workload, low pay, a lack of support, and unrealistic expectations.
But if you ask Peter Duris, CEO of Kickresume, some of those people are experiencing something called a “competence hangover,” too.
What is a competence hangover?
It’s a form of burnout that happens when a worker feels solely, or mostly, responsible for keeping their workplace afloat.
You might feel that standards would drop to unacceptable levels without you, or that serious mistakes would be made in your absence – leading to immense perceived pressure.
“If you feel responsible for other people’s well-being at work, you might be more likely to push yourself further, taking on extra tasks or working later, potentially to the point of burnout,” said Duris.
Who is most likely to get a “competence hangover”?
“You can develop this issue in any kind of job, but there are some career paths where people might be more vulnerable to a ‘competence hangover,’” Duris told HuffPost UK.
“This includes jobs where workers can find themselves under a lot of emotional strain,” like medicine, teaching, and social work.
And, Duris added, personality matters too.
“Studies have shown that people who are highly conscientious are more likely to take on extra work, describing themselves as feeling exhausted and emotionally drained.
“Because they’re seen as reliable, these employees are often asked by managers to take on extra tasks on top of helping their coworkers. Managers should be mindful of this to avoid overloading their teams.”
How can I tell if I have a competence hangover?
Per Duris, some signs include:
- Feeling exhausted,
- Coming back to work after the weekend as if you haven’t had a proper rest,
- Struggling with decision-making can feel harder,
- Low creativity,
- Feeling resentful of coworkers.
“On the other hand, if you’re a manager who’s worried about one of your team members, it might come out in a one-to-one meeting, so make sure that you’re making time for these catch-ups,” he added.
When should I leave because of burnout?
Competence “hangovers” are a form of burnout that can make you feel like you need to switch jobs.
“Sometimes a couple of days off can help take the pressure off a bit. But people whose exhaustion is deeper than this might find themselves needing to use sick leave, or consider leaving their job,” he said.
“Even if you love your work and you’re a high performer, it’s not worth risking your wellbeing and your health.
If you have a supportive manager and workplace, he added, relying on the people you work with more could help to ease your stress.
“But if you can’t rely on the other people at your company to pick up the slack after you’ve been giving it your all to keep everything going – to the point that you’ve burned out – it might be time to start thinking about a change of direction,” he ended.