3 Ways to Stave Off Cynicism at Work

Many people think of burnout as something solely related to overwork or exhaustion. But thanks to the work of Dr. Christina Maslach, we know that burnout actually manifests according to three different symptoms. The second symptom of burnout is cynicism or depersonalization. Cynicism can lead to burnout by causing you to lose motivation and your sense of purpose at work.

So how can you avoid falling into cynicism at work? Here are a few ways:

• Limit interactions with "energy vampires". There's a popular saying: "You are the sum of the 5 people you hang out with most". If you spend most of your time around people that drain your energy, then over time you will naturally become more cynical. The next time a coworker starts a venting session, see if you can get out of it by politely excusing yourself back to your desk or telling your coworker that you need to finish up an urgent project.

• Take a pause. Meditation and mindfulness have been recommended so often that they are now cliches. But there is a lot of scientific evidence backing it up. The next time you feel yourself getting upset or angry, take a 3 second pause to breathe in and allow yourself to think before acting.

• Remind yourself of why you do what you do. It's easy to get lost in the weeds and lose sight of why you are working so hard in the first place. At the start of your workday, before diving into emails, try taking a second to think about who your work is benefiting and how you are helping others.

Next week we'll look at the third and final symptom of burnout - professional inefficacy. Sign up for my mailing list to receive an email when I publish my next post (along with other recommendations related to mental health and wellness at work).

Miss last week's post on overworking at work? Read it here.