Signs of burnout can be critical for your mental health, especially if you ignore those signs in the long run. Unfortunately, more and more customer reps are facing this issue.

According to the WHO, burnout is defined as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.

Working in a dynamic, and fast-paced industry like customer service will undoubtedly take its toll. Of course, unless you don’t recognize it and do something about it. As a matter of fact, this study shows that 74% of contact center agents are at risk of burnout.

In this article, we will present you with the most common signs of burnout, and offer you some management tips. Shall we start? Let’s get right into action!

Mental Exhaustion and Alienation

This is one of the most typical signs of burnout that people are experiencing in fast-paced industries. Each day, customer reps may detect a decrease in their energy to keep up with the workload.

Of course, at first, this doesn’t seem like a problem, and that’s understandable. There are numerous factors that contribute to forming such feelings.

However, if you find out that your energy is getting drained each day more and more, then, you’re facing burnout. Period.

On the other hand, “alienation” at your workplace doesn’t happen suddenly, even though it looks like that at first. This phenomenon is characterized by feeling numb and uninterested to do your tasks like you would normally do before.

Feeling Helpless and Trapped

No matter how successful you’re at your workplace, sometimes, you can feel a downfall. This doesn’t have to be connected with a job that you can’t do, or you’re doing for the first time.

It happens to the best of us. At the end of the day, we are all humans.

However, sometimes this feeling doesn’t fade away that easily. Customer support agents sometimes feel that they can’t provide more value to the company.If you’re experiencing this, we recommend you take a break and try to identify why is this happening.

Maybe it is not due to the workplace, but due to foreign factors that happen in your private life. Nonetheless, once you recognize these signs of burnout do something about it right away. A good way to start is to be a bit more positive.

Loss of Enjoyment

Do you remember the times when you were happy to do this job? Ah, did it happen that long ago?

I strongly disagree that most people don’t want to work, like really. People do, but they want to find enjoyment in the things they love doing, So, if that’s handling customers` inquiries, then why they wouldn’t like that? As a plus, people get a salary, right?

Be sure that every person can find enjoyment in little or in big things. Even in between. But, surely, if this isn’t the case at the moment with you, the struggle is indeed real.

A sudden, then rapid downfall in terms of enjoyment is one of the biggest signs of burnout.

Troubles With Concentrating

Lack of concentration is surely one of the biggest signs of burnout in the customer service industry. Unfortunately, for the customer rep, concentration is essential when handling customer requests.

Let’s make a difference though. There are some days when you’re not as focused as you are. But, if you’re dealing with such issues for a prolonged period of time, then you’re indeed experiencing burnout.

A wandering mind, or better said, as you feel overwhelmed, it really gets hard to keep up with your attention. This directly has an impact on your productivity. More and more people are experiencing this issue, and because of it, most of them take their “work” at home to finish their tasks.

Unexplained Headaches

Even though all of the aforementioned signs of burnout were emotional, they don’t have to be. They can be physical as well which makes the whole situation a lot more worrisome.

When the person is exposed to constant stress for a longer period of time, then headaches, hypertension, and stomachaches do happen.

If you’re currently facing this issue, then you should turn on the alarm. According to numerous studies, this is maybe the final stage that you’re facing burnout.

How To “Treat” Burnout?

There are many ways to alleviate the symptoms of burnout. Things don’t necessarily have to be hard to be fixed.

The best way to treat the symptoms is to:

• Speak to a professional – speak with licensed professionals who can hear you, and understand you like nobody else. At the same time, do not hesitate to inform your supervisor about the problems you’re facing.
• Exercise – exercising at least 3 times per week will do wonders for your body. Namely, your body will release dopamine which relieves depression and boosts your levels of joy to the highest levels.
• Work-life balance – Even though this is easier to say than to accomplish, at the end of the day, you can really do this. After your working hours, take time for yourself and your hobbies. Or, do something that makes you feel appreciated and fulfilled.
• Sleep well – It is never a good idea to sleep less than 6 hours, although the bare minimum should be 8. Try to organize your sleep schedule and stick to it as much as you can. Inadequate sleep will take its toll sooner or later.
• Change your lifestyle – surround yourself with positive people, start thinking positively about life, and don’t forget to socialize. As we work, more and more people start to feel monotonous and chaotic.

Conclusion

Have you noticed any of these symptoms lately? Or, have you felt these symptoms in the past? We hope that after this article, you will be able to identify any signs of burnout and prevent them as fast as possible.

If you like this article, then stick with us in the future as well, because you will have an opportunity to read interesting topics!