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Future Planning
Unlock your financial future with Future Planning.
54 Devizes Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 4BG
Website Email 01793 575553In 2019, the World Health Organisation recognised burnout as an “occupational phenomenon”. According to Mental Health UK, common signs of burnout include:
So, what’s causing the growing trend of burnout? A study by Onward suggests it may not be the factors that first come to mind.
While the report found that many people said they feel too busy or tired to participate in important leisure or social activities, it suggests three commonly cited reasons are “myths”:
Myth 1: We’re getting less sleep
Lack of sleep is a common complaint. Yet, the research found that people are sleeping by around 30 minutes more a day when compared to four decades ago.
Myth 2: We are working more
While work does take up a significant portion of time for many people, overall people aren’t working longer hours. Since 1974, men’s working hours have decreased by 2%. Women’s working hours increased by 13% over the same period, reflecting the fact that more women are now working full-time.
Myth 3: We are more rushed
It’s a common saying that modern life is fast-paced. However, the share of people reporting they are often rushed has fallen in the last two decades from 20% to 17%.
If tackling burnout isn’t as straightforward as getting more sleep or reducing working hours, what is the solution? The study suggests a modern lifestyle habit is playing a role.
THE REPORT LINKS RAPID SHIFTING BETWEEN ACTIVITIES TO BURNOUT
The report suggests that people are now more likely to rapidly shift between activities. It argues the breakdown in the distinction between different types of time and activities is leading to a rise in burnout as it can make people feel overwhelmed.
In 1974, the average man changed activity 18 times a day, yet by 2014 this had almost doubled to 31. For women, activities increased from 23 to 37.
The report adds that multitasking through fragmentation, where you break up activities to do something else, “creates a stronger sense of time pressure and reduces the quality of activities”.
Fragmentation could mean you’re less productive at work as you are jumping from one task to another without completing them.
It’s a habit that can spill over into your personal life, too. On weekends in 1974, the average person would spend just over five hours on leisure activities, broken down into four episodes, a day. In 2014, not only do people spend an hour less on leisure time, but it’s also broken down into seven episodes.
Breaking down leisure activities could mean you don’t have an opportunity to fully relax and enjoy what you’re doing.
3 USEFUL TIPS THAT COULD REDUCE BURNOUT
With the findings of the study in mind, thinking about how you use your time and focus on different activities could be useful. Here are three simple tips that could improve your mental wellbeing.
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Unlock your financial future with Future Planning.
54 Devizes Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 4BG
Website Email 01793 575553In case you missed it see what’s in this section
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