Many of us talk about working towards getting that dream job and once we get it, to give our best every day. We talk about being enthusiastic about the work we do, keeping a positive mindset, and giving our 100% to every project. What we don’t talk about is feeling burnt out.
People might experience burnouts after a continued period of giving their 100% to the work they do. Indian journalist Somesh Jha recently took to Twitter to talk about burnouts and reveal how he left his job because of it.
It has been over a month since I took a major step back and left my job, thanks to something called #burnout. I had hit a wall…. A thread:
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
He said how burnouts can make you feel exhausted about the kind of work you once loved doing.
Burnout is beyond exhaustion. Not only do you feel that you have no energy left to work, even if it’s the kind of work that you enjoy, you also feel detached. Cynicism takes over, efficiency takes a hit and nothing seems to pull you up.
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
In past 8 years, journalism has not only been a career, it has been my calling. I TOTALLY LOVE digging stories & holding the system accountable. I worked at (an often unhealthy) neck-breaking pace but that’s something I enjoyed doing until…burnout hit me, & it hit pretty hard.
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
He added how he experienced a lack of motivation and overall exhaustion.
Suddenly, I lost all motivation to chase a story. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the feeling of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. As a policy reporter, meeting people is a core part of the job and the pandemic only made things worse.
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
However, as much as it may seem personal, burnout is actually not an individual issue… if one goes by the literature:
“Research has definitively shown that burnout is an organisational problem, not an individual one.”https://t.co/T2hamwwLV9
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
Here’s a simple analogy – if you burn your bread in a toaster, the problem is not with the bread.
Also, leaving a job is a privilege and that’s why the best way to deal with burnout is to prevent it.
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
Finally, he asked people not to doubt or blame themselves if and when they experience burnout.
A burnout can shatter your confidence like nothing else & it can make you feel drained. If you are feeling burnt out like me – don’t doubt yourself. The first step is to identify the problem & the cause. Don’t be harsh on yourself or blame yourself. Because it is NOT your fault.
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) June 6, 2021
Several people online showered their support on Somesh. Many opened up about similar experiences of burnouts in their career.
Take your time. As long as it takes to recuperate, recover and recharge yourself! It is what I did after 10 intense years of filming in Gujarat and elsewhere.
Best wishes, Somesh. Reach out any time you want to talk. https://t.co/UdD3QoXOWU
— Rakesh Sharma (@rakeshfilm) June 6, 2021
What surprising and moving thread from you! It’s very very important thing I have read on @twitter in a long time. Thanks much! Touched!
Not just media professionals everyone should read it .Wishing you best for rejuvenation.— Sheela Bhatt शीला भट्ट (@sheela2010) June 6, 2021
This is so nicely put!
I really hope organization’s in India understand that only researching on issues like working conditions of employees and mental health without paying heed to their employees well-being is not a sustainable business model.
— Srishti Goyal (@_FreedomFly_) June 6, 2021
6.5 years since I quit with the same feelings. The lowest point was around the time I left, with many of the lows you described.
However, each day since has been infinitely better, even with all the challenges and adversities. Never looked back.
Good luck.
— Ujval Nanavati (@cynical_ujval) June 6, 2021
Hey Somesh. Totally understand what you must be going through. Last more than a year has been different. To a large extent I too feel less motivated. Meeting people, discussions all give a different dimension to our work. But this will pass through. Hang on.But Dont quit. Relax
— Ujjval Jauhari (@UjjvalJauhari) June 6, 2021
Thank you for sharing this…it is such an important issue to be talked about… especially the part around not blaming the individual as much!
— Dr. Aarti Shyamsunder (@Aartideetoo) June 6, 2021
Burnouts are not something that is spoken about often. Yet, it is a very real phenomenon that many experience. The more people talk about it, the more will they learn to deal with it. Don’t you think?