Taking on an executive role comes with many perks like a high salary, generous benefits, and performance bonuses. However, the immense pressure and demands that accompany such responsibility can lead to burnout, a serious issue often overlooked.
Being an executive requires the responsibility of making critical decisions, maintaining high performance under employees’ watch, and overseeing daily operations of the business. In many cases, this relentless pace can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, especially when personal wellness and connections are neglected.
Executive Burnout is more than feeling ‘tired.’ It’s the result of prolonged stress where the body can no longer produce enough energy to solve problems – mentally or physically.
What Causes Executive Burnout?
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It develops overtime due to factors such as:
- Heavy workloads and long hours
- Work-life imbalance and lack of downtime
- High expectations
- Lack of support
- A failure to produce results expected
How Does Burnout Affect Executives?
Executives tend to reach this state differently. However, the effects are often similarly experienced.
According to The Michelle McQuaid Group, almost two out of every three workers (63.6%) reported feeling burned out at work. However, many executives reach out for help only after a crisis develops, with symptoms escalating to severe conditions like major depression disorder, anxiety, or panic attacks.
The effects of executive burnout impact both executives’ personal and professional lives. They are listed below.
Physical effects:
- Headaches, high blood pressure, and digestive issues
- Chronic fatigue and weakened immunity
- When left untreated, heart conditions and stomach ulcers
Emotional effects:
- Chronic stress
- Anxiety and depression
- Increased irritability and negativity
- Cynicism and detachment from work and relationships
Behavioural effects:
- Impaired decision-making
- Decreased productivity and job performance
- Withdrawal from colleagues and family
- Reliance on substances like alcohol or drugs to cope
- Compulsive or unhealthy behaviours
These effects are serious as they not only affect the individual experiencing burnout, but also the entire company that relies on the individual’s daily performance as the backbone of operations.
When employees are affected by their leader’s behaviour, this can increase turnover rates and cause the company to lose great talent.
Recovering From Executive Burnout
Recognising and addressing burnout early is crucial. When left untreated, burnout can negatively impact not only your wellbeing, but also your ability to lead effectively, leaving the success of the organisation in unstable hands.
While reaching out for help can often be perceived as a weakness, it’s a brave yet empowering step towards recovery. Ignoring burnout, on the other hand, only takes a more physical and emotional toll that can further damage your health.
If you are noticing signs of burnout, we highly recommend that you reach out to Tranquilo, a luxury rehabilitation centre that supports executive burnout recovery in a private and confidential environment.
How Can Tranquilo Wellness Help?
Tranquilo equips you with everyday skills that enable you to flourish at work with a renewed sense of enjoyment in your personal life as well.
The more proactive you are about spotting signs of burnout and seeking help, the faster your body can recover and prevent itself from collapsing. With the growing sense of awareness making it easier for executives to seek help, recovering from burnout should be a priority once symptoms become apparent.
By identifying key aspects of your problem and developing strategies to improve your wellbeing, all while ensuring your comfort in our luxury accommodation and facilities, we ensure your body truly recovers from the weary cycle that put you out.
Contact us today for a confidential discussion regarding your rehabilitation. Begin your path to wellness and embrace a better tomorrow by taking the first step towards recovery.
