How to Handle Mid-Career Burnout

How to Handle Mid-Career Burnout

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Research has shown that career satisfaction bottoms out when professionals are in the middle of their careers.

In fact, mid-career burnout is such a common occurrence that many psychologists have devoted their whole careers to studying it.

How to Handle Mid-Career Burnout

How do you know if you are experiencing mid-career burnout?

You may feel the following things: cynicism at work, short fuse with co-workers or clients, exhaustion or lack of energy to be constantly productive, inability to focus on tasks, sense of professional ineffectiveness, lack of satisfaction in your achievements, feeling undervalued in your work, or feeling that your work has no meaning.

Not all mid-career burnout is the same. You could be burned out from working too much and not having enough time to live a personal life. You could also be burned out from doing the same job at the same company for too long.

If you feel burned out, try the following:

Reassess Your Current Job

Even though your current role might feel terrible, it didn’t always feel that way. Remember when you first got hired and were really excited about the position? Think back about what made you excited and what you loved. Then think about which of those of those elements you still enjoy and which have perhaps become stale. Write these things down and see if there are things you were excited about that have fallen by the wayside and how you could possibly get them back on your plate. Take a moment to also consider how your time gets divided between those tasks you enjoy and those you don’t. Could your time be redistributed differently?

If you love what you do, but are struggling with your work, co-workers or company culture, consider a lateral move to a new company. It would give you a fresh start, fresh set of goals, and likely an increase in pay.

If you like the culture and people at your current role, but the work itself is what’s bothering you, you could also consider a move within your current company to a new position. Make an appointment with HR and bring with you a list of strengths and accomplishments. Talk together about what other opportunities might be available or upcoming.

Reassess Your Career Path

Given the disruption recently caused by the Coronavirus, this is a great time to lay the groundwork for an eventual career pivot. Lots of people are thinking about what is really important and what they want their lives to look like once things go back to “normal.”

Take the time now to start building a strong foundation for a pivot, so that by the time markets steady you’ll have what you need to hit the ground running. Update your resume and then take the time to do some self-reflection about what you’d really like to do next. This can be an overwhelming task, as you likely have lots of different things you could do. But getting really specific about what direction you want to move in will set you up for success. Seek out a mentor, or an independent career consultant or career coach; someone who can give you an assessment to help you make informed decisions about career development and trajectory with insight, encouragement, and inspiration.

Then create a target employer list and do some research. Has the landscape changed for them in recent months? Do they have any new or long-term challenges you know you can help with? Reach out to your contacts and see if you can get an informational interview with someone at the company to find out more. Don’t be afraid to network even in these times, videoconferencing means you can meet them for a virtual coffee at their convenience.

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Invest Time in Your Personal Life

Sometimes changing jobs or changing companies isn’t immediately feasible. That certainly doesn’t mean you should remain burned out. Here are a few starter ideas on ways to invest more time into your personal life:

Create firm boundaries centered around goals. For example, if you are committed to getting home to dinner with your kids every night, make it clear you’ll be leaving at 5 p.m. each day.

Find a cause or activity that is personally fulfilling to you and make it a priority. Not sure where to start? Chances are your company is affiliated with some kind of charity organization; express interest in joining the board or helping to organize a related event.

Figure out your passion. Have you always wanted to take up a hobby or learn a skill but never had the time? Make time for it now. It may sound like adding yet another thing on top of a very busy schedule is too overwhelming. But carving out just an hour a week to take a class or join a group that you love and look forward to, will leave you feeling both more peaceful and energetic.

Finally, if you have to stay in your current position, make things more manageable at work by talking to your boss or HR team and being diplomatically honest about what you are feeling. It is common for people to have misconceptions about what their boss expects of them, and maybe some priorities can be reset. Schedule regular check-ins with your boss and team to make sure everyone is connected and on the same page. And don’t forget about your paid time off (PTO); you earned it, make sure you use it as an opportunity to refresh yourself.

Jennifer L. Grybowski
About the Author
Jennifer L. Grybowski

Jennifer L. Grybowski has been a journalist and writer for 20 years. She has written about business, government, politics, education, and culture. She holds a MFA from Southern New Hampshire University, and also writes fiction. Connect with her at https://jlgrybowski.journoportfolio.com

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