The Stressed Gen: How to Recover from Burnout
And a few ways to get out of the rut
There was a time when landing that management post was a career milestone that one celebrated with a night on the town. In recent years countless millennials have been gaining experience and seniority in the workforce, but increasingly, millennial managers have found themselves disillusioned by what they’d thought were plum positions in dream jobs.
There are, of course, several factors that contribute to millennial manager burnout. Middle management itself is a difficult balancing act that constantly requires bridging higher-ups and the lower rungs. At worst, the experience can be isolating: In 2015, Columbia University found that 18% of middle managers reported depression symptoms–notably higher numbers than blue-collar workers (12%) and owners and executives (11%).
But back then there was no COVID-19 pandemic, which truly made things worse for millennial managers. A recent Gallup report noted that “burnout in people managers increased from 27% in 2020 to 35% in 2021.”
Another study, this time by the insurance company MetLife, says millennial managers are far likelier than those from other generations to report burnout–this cohort saw the biggest increase in burnout this past year with “42% reporting workplace tiredness and stress; 34% of Gen Z, 27% of Gen X, and 21% of Baby Boomers reported the same,” according to the study.
Why are they having a tougher time than the others? This is partly because they had been raised in a culture that prizes overwork (as a measure of achievement or success), besides being a generation that must now juggle care duties for both parents and children.
To be sure, the shift to remote work in many organisations has added an extra layer of stress, making it harder for upper management to detect burnout among the ranks. While navigating these uncertain times in survival mode, millennial managers might take to heart self-care as a core program in their quest for wellness. Creating a safe space for oneself within oneself will go a long way in battling the blues. Keeping a small circle of trusted friends or a tight family squad can amp up feelings of security.
One might also take up a hobby for its own sake, with no need for explanations or the pressure of measurable outcomes. Anything that unwinds the tight ball that one starts feeling within when stress mounts is precious in and of itself.
It’s also good to get out of one’s head and see the bigger picture. Quite often, the biggest worries never come to pass, and when one or two do, life always springs a few surprises–hey, that wasn’t so bad! Besides, building resiliency is not a one-time project, but rather, a work in progress that has little to do with perfection.
Finally, stepping out of one’s head also has the wondrous side effect of seeing the value of others. The most meaningful life is one that puts others ahead: The deeper and wider our circle of care, the better we become. It’s a profound human need to be acknowledged and appreciated, making compassion and understanding a compelling fount of self-control and healing. If you need help managing stressed employees in your workplace, book a consult with us today. Let us help your staff recover from burnout to achieve peak management capability and bench strength.
