Burnout

We recently received a request to include the topic of burnout in one of our upcoming newsletter articles. As always, we very much appreciate hearing suggestions and feedback from our readers.

Given the daily stressors which seem to have been exponentially magnified by COVID-19 over the last few years, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more and more examples of burnout within the field of Early Childhood.

There’s no shortage of research to support what we already know, that the pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of many. “Mental health is a state of mind characterized by emotional well-being, good behavioral adjustment, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relationships and cope with the ordinary demands and stresses of life.” (Adapted from APA Dictionary of Psychology)

Many times, stress come about because of what’s going on in our environment. And when people experience higher stress levels, even making minor every day decisions can be overwhelming, in what Roy F. Baumeister, a social psychologist from the University of Queensland in Australia identifies as “decision fatigue.” When the brain is exposed to prolonged psychological stress, it can take us “below the line”, where brain function goes into a defensive, protective, survival mode. Resilience is one characteristic that can allow us to operate from the area “above the line”, where brain function works from a more open, creative, innovative, learning state.

So, what can be done to combat burnout? First, I have to admit, my initial thought was to do a whole lot of research and try to provide solutions. Yes, you guessed it, I jumped straight in to fix it mode. Clearly, I am still a work in progress. 😊

Not far into my research, I paused and realized the skills for coaching someone who’s experiencing burnout are the same as for coaching someone on any other topic. The pandemic has certainly increased the stress level of many and has us exploring the impact on people’s mental health. Something to keep in mind is whether coaching is suitable in the situation, or if it might be serious enough to require professional mental health supports. To be clear, coaching does not replace therapy and the main goal is to support the person in seeking the appropriate support. 

If coaching seems appropriate, then here are a few reminders: approach the person with a coaching mindset, deep respect, and a belief that they are capable and competent, be present, listen, reflect and clarify, and ask open ended questions. Drawing on these skills is a great place to start. Another reminder is to bring your own curiosity about how the situation is affecting the person.

Sometimes it can be helpful to share what we’re noticing and then ask for their reflections on those observations. Burnout can bring with it a lot of emotions, so it’s important for us to allow space for those emotions, as well as time for the person to pause to reflect and gain clarity.

The Institute of Coaching suggests “the approaches to preventing and overcoming burnout and increasing engagement are focused on individual well-being as well as more and more – on the role of the work environment, organizational culture, leadership style and social relations within organizations.”

To summarize, one option for offering support for someone experiencing burnout is to lean into a coaching mindset and skillset and to partner with the person to identify their true challenge, action steps, and available resources.

Some questions to consider might be:

• What options do you see to handle this situation?
• What’s important about this for you?
• What’s one thing that would have the biggest impact on the situation?

For further reading, we have included a few resource articles on stress and burnout below.

Thank you for this suggestion, keep the ideas and feedback coming!!!

Submitted by,

Barb Willier, Coaching Coordinator  (barwil@pakeys.org)   

Rasheeda Coston, Director of Coaching (rascos@pakeys.org)

The Pennsylvania Key   

https://instituteofcoaching.org/masterclasses/burnout

High stress levels during pandemic are making even everyday choices difficult (apa.org)

Stress in America 2020 survey signals a growing national mental health crisis (apa.org)

APA Dictionary of Psychology