According to Insider, more than 61% of American employees said they were currently "at least somewhat burned out." Workers are getting burnt out at alarming rates, causing burnout to be a hot topic discussed in every industry. The corporate world added remote working options in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but this only blurred the lines between work and personal lives.

This dizzying realization led to the so-called “Great Resignation” and existential dread, with a monthly total of 4 million employees quitting their jobs from April to June 2021, according to the U.S Department of Labor Statistics.

At Setup, we noticed that same sentiment from our August #MarketingMixer surveys where attendees articulated their exhaustion for Zoom meetings and wanted to engage in in-person networking. We ironically hosted a Zoom event in response to this feedback to create a safe, inspirational space for leaders to discuss how they deal with burnout on a personal and professional level. 

The goal: to provide tips to marketing leaders to combat burnout for themselves and their team. In addition to our input, the leaders who attended from a variety of companies such as Delta Airlines, Zep, Char-Broil, FIS, and more shared their own methods in their breakout and discussion rooms which ranged from running, dancing, and painting rocks. 

Watch the event discussion here

What is burnout?

The W.H.O. defined burnout as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” A range of symptoms associated with burnout include: 

• Feeling drained

• Increased mental distance from one’s job

• Feelings of negativity or cynicism related to one’s job

• Reduced professional efficacy

• Increased feelings of anxiety and depression

Key takeaways: 

Personality + Burnout correlation

Feelings of burnout differ based on your personality

For example, some of our attendees who identify as extroverts expressed that remote work and online networking events have fully contributed to their burnout. Erin Jende, the Director of Marketing Strategy and Activation, Americas at Interface explained that she gets energy from interacting with others and having to do things like presentations online “take a massive toll” on her. She went on to explain that now more than ever she’s burned out at the end of that day due to remote work “I have the same number of meetings with the same number of people, but when it was in person my energy level was being fed by other people and I felt productive and interactive whereas now I don’t feel that way.”

Work + Life intersection is detrimental

“Now going back to some normalcy, it feels like a flood, like everything is coming at me,” Said a #MarketingMixer attendee.

Although remote work is now the standard for corporate employees, it does not always lead to the flexibility of a work-life balance. Working from home has made work-life busier for some employees because they are expected to be “on” from the moment they wake up. Charles Cunningham, Director of Growth at Sparkloft Media, said “working from home can be like living from work.”  Some employees feel like creating that balance and drawing boundaries is more challenging than ever. 

Steps to avoid burnout

1. Set boundaries

Create a schedule for the day and block out time for for breaks and hard outs. 

2. Pay attention to your mind and body

If you begin to feel emotions like anxiety, depression, stress, or derealization when it comes to working, check in with yourself. Devote time to decompress in a healthy way - whether that’s in the form of meditation, exercise, sleep, reading, journaling, etc. - just take some time out for self-care! 

Leaders can influence this growth and self-awareness by: 

• encouraging employees to take time off, 

• dedicating days for no meetings, and 

• creating an open space for workers to provide feedback about culture and workload so that employee health continues to be a priority.

3. Find a hobby outside of work

Whether it’s yoga, a new sport, training for a half marathon (like our Marketing Manager Madeline Evans), find something outside of work to get into. Fuel your passions or discover a crafty project that brings joy to yourself or others. Stacy Sutton, the CMO of Rule 1 Ventures, decided to paint and leave rocks around her neighborhood to lift the spirits of her community. 

4. Find what fuels energy + drains your energy

Kat Rutherford, Director of Business Development at DEFINITION 6 quoted her breakout partner Leandi McMurphy, the Senior Director of Brand Marketing at Char-Broil, in the discussion. McMurphy’s philosophy is, “instead of managing your time, you should manage your energy.” This is great advice for people of all personality traits. If you’re an extrovert, consider catching up with some friends after work to feel less drained. Introverts can spend time doing things for themselves like reading or cooking! 

Mindfulness instructor Ed Halliwell recommends even setting alarms every hour for “energy check-ins” to remember to take a break or check your energy. 

We understand that burnout is quite prevalent in our community so it’s important to recognize when you are burnt out and apply the techniques discussed to continue to fight back and motivate your team.

If you’d like to improve the culture, collaboration, and confidence of members of your team - Setup is now offering a Team Development program. Contact us if you’re interested!

Upcoming Events

The #MarketingMixers provide opportunities for marketers to learn and connect virtually in a stress-free environment. Join us in February for our first #MarketingMixer for 2022!