The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises burnout as a distinct syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed.
Recently, burnout has emerged as a significant occupational challenge that impacts many workers across various sectors.
But ‘work’ is not confined to the traditional workplace. For example, homemakers, or 9 to 5 employees who have to come home to share the domestic load, and those who are unable to escape their workplace to turn off and recuperate for the next working day. So we are encompassing all aspects of burnout for all workers.
Our program is designed to address the three key dimensions of burnout:
1. Physical and Mental Exhaustion
We'll help you recognise and manage feelings of lack of energy, providing practical tools and techniques for sustaining energy levels.
2. Workplace (and Professional) Disconnection
We'll explore ways to rebuild your connection with your work, looking at negativity or cynicism that you may have towards your work/professional life.
3. Workplace Effectiveness
This' program focuses on restoring your sense of workplace/professional efficacy, helping you rediscover your abilities and strengthen your contributions.
Guided by the latest WHO frameworks on mental well-being in the workplace, we'll look at evidence-based approaches to help you develop effective strategies for managing workplace stress and preventing burnout.
Measuring Burnout
Understanding and Interpreting the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI)
The OLBI is a comprehensive tool for measuring burnout levels, particularly valuable in our program for you when seeking relief from workplace stress.
The inventory evaluates two key dimensions:
* Disengagement from work
* Physical and emotional exhaustion
Practical Application:
Useful for initial assessment
Helps identify areas requiring immediate attention
Guides development of personalised intervention strategies
Valuable tool for tracking progress eg. at the conclusion of the retreat program
Assessment Structure:
16 statements requiring responses on a 4-point scale
Measures both positive and negative aspects of work engagement
Scoring System:
Each item scored from 1-4 points
Maximum total score: 64 points
(note the (R) items where scoring is reversed
Activity: Review your initial OLBI score to record your level of burnout
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Interpretation Guidelines:
Low burnout: Score below 44
Moderate burnout: Score between 44-59
High burnout: Score above 59
The OLBI inventory can help structure appropriate interventions for individual focus by scoring individual questions:
Disengagement items are 1, 3(R), 6(R), 7, 9(R), 11(R), 13, 15.
Higher disengagement (22 plus) scores reflect a stronger tendency for individuals to distance themselves from their work and develop negative attitudes toward their job.
Exhaustion items are 2(R), 4(R), 5, 8(R), 10, 12(R), 14, 16. (R)
Higher exhaustion (23 plus) subscale scores indicate greater physical, affective and cognitive fatigue.
(R) means reversed item when the scores should be such that higher scores indicate more burnout.
Key Areas of Focus:
For Exhaustion:
Energy Levels (physical) | Emotional Response: |
De-arousal and relaxation strategies (3) Coping with stress (9) Healthy living (12) Nutrition (13) Sleep hygiene (14) Balanced lifestyle (18) | Distress tolerance (6) Self-soothing (7) Mindfulness (8) Emotions (9) Communication (10) Worry & problem solving (11) Relapse prevention (20) |
For Disengagement:
Work Engagement |
Procrastination and priorities (4) Values (5) Motivation (15) Goal setting (17) Managing uncertainty (16) Knowing your rights at work (19) |
Activity: Review your initial OLBI score to identify your areas of focus. You can then do that specific course or all three for a holistic approach.
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NB. Often other conditions exist in conjunction with burnout so it is important to review this with tools such as the DASS to cover anxiety and depressive symptoms that can also be secondary to burnout.
This can be reviewed and completed separately to ensure a holistic treatment approach.
Together we will embark on this transformative journey towards workplace renewal and sustainable wellness.
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