FTW Magazine
In May of 2019, the term “burnout” became a legitimate diagnosis when the World Health Organization declared the condition, which is related to untreated chronic workplace stress, an “occupational phenomenon.” Shedding light on this common malady, the WHO is ensuring that employers can no longer turn a blind eye on the issue.
There are three factors that typically cause burnout: having too much to do and not enough time to do it, challenging people, and worry about the future. In an era when technology, high-pressure work environments, and astronomical employer demands on employees are commonplace, it’s no surprise that, according to the American Medical Association, stress is the cause of more than 60% of all human illness and disease. A potential antidote for such stresses — and a method being adopted by an increasing number of companies — is the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness is, essentially, being fully present and aware of where you are and what you’re doing; this can help one become less reactive or overwhelmed by situations.
How radical does it sound to slow a workday down and focus for a few minutes on the health of a person instead of the job?