Self-Management of Depression

Burnout has become a common term in our modern lexicon, with people using it broadly to describe their general experience of stress at work. Although not classified as a medical condition with diagnostic criteria like other mental health conditions, burnout does have a specific definition based on extensive research. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Burnout is more than just feeling bummed out or having a bad day at work; it doesn’t happen overnight. It slowly creeps up on us, albeit with some warning signs. Burnout most commonly results from an imbalance between the demands and resources at work, or a conflict between personal and organizational values. In particular, burnout is conceptualized as the final stage of breakdown in one’s ability to adapt to the demand/resource mismatch or values conflict. Symptoms of burnout represent not only the presence o...

                                                              In today’s fast-moving global economy, the concept of one-size-fits-all linear career path is a thing of the past. Employees have unique needs in context of their work. Some view it to as a means to an end, some as a steppingstone for advancement in their career while others may consider it a calling. These three types of orientations toward work are described in more detail below (Wrzesniewski et al., 1997): 1. Job orientation: Individuals with a job orientation are only interested in the material benefits from work and do not seek or receive any other type of reward from it. Their main source of joy is outside their work and work is a means to provide resources to enjoy their time outside of work. They often wish time would pass more quickly at work and greatly anti...