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The topic of mental health is becoming increasingly relevant, both on a personal and work level.
Stress and the resulting risk of burnout are among the main challenges that today's professionals have to face, especially in the events sector, where it is necessary to manage stressful situations of all kinds: from financial decisions and their impact, to managing people and a sometimes extreme level of multitasking.
When we talk about mental wellbeing we don't simply mean the absence of symptoms, but it is a state that allows people to deal with stress and develop their abilities, to learn and work effectively. On the contrary, poor mental health negatively influences all aspects of a person's life: from the emotional and social sphere to physical well-being, and can inevitably compromise productivity at work.
For the majority of the population, work and mental health are closely linked, so much so that the so-called “psychosocial risks”: risks deriving from poor planning, organization and management, but also from an inadequate environmental and social context of work; which can cause damage to the worker's psycho-physical health.
Regarding mental health, one of the conditions that psychosocial risks can cause in the workplace is burnout.
What is burnout?
Although it has been talked about since the 70s, the burnout syndrome has been recognized as an official diagnosis byWHO only in 2019 and, at present, officially refers only to work experience. Burnout can be defined as:
“a syndrome (…) resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: 1) feelings of exhaustion or energy depletion; 2) greater mental distance from one's work or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's work and 3) a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.”
- World Health Organization
Difference between stress and burnout
To prevent and manage burnout, we must first understand the details of the condition and the differences between stress and burnout which, although they may be linked, not they are the same thing:
- Stress: it's a reaction momentary to external mental or emotional pressures that may seem overwhelming. It is a normal – sometimes necessary – response of the body to situations that require increased attention or effort. If managed effectively, stress can have a beneficial effect, stimulating productivity and personal growth. However, if it becomes chronic, it can compromise mental and physical well-being.
- Burnout: is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged work stress. Unlike stress, which can arise from any event, burnout is closely linked to the workplace. Those who suffer from this syndrome experience emotional and practical disengagement from work, due to loss of motivation and self-esteem, culminating in withdrawal from work. Burnout has negative repercussions not only for the individual, but for the entire work organization.
So, the main difference between stress and burnout is related to the way people deal with the problem. With stress, people become stimulated and work harder; burnout instead leads to a loss of self-confidence and consequent disengagement.
Inception and evolution
They have been identified 4 phases in the evolution of burnout syndrome:
- First phase, “Idealistic enthusiasm”: the worker invests a lot of energy in his work, feels motivated by his professional choice and creates high and unrealistic expectations of "omnipotence". In this phase the subject is very active and tends to sacrifice personal life for work.
- Second phase, “Stagnation”: the subject continues to work, but realizes that the work does not satisfy him completely and the results of his work efforts begin to appear inconsistent; he begins to face professional difficulties and failures in a passive or negative way.
- Third phase, “Frustration”: the syndrome worsens, with a profound feeling of uselessness and frustration, usually supported by poor appreciation from colleagues or customers. The worker may demonstrate symptoms of anxiety, aggression towards himself or others, and behavior of escape or withdrawal from work.
- Fourth phase, “Disengagement”: There is a gradual emotional and practical detachment from work, leading to apathy and real “professional death”.
Symptoms of burnout
The symptoms of burnout can be divided into two broad categories: those that concern the emotional and cognitive sphere and those of a physical or psychosomatic nature.
- emotional and cognitive symptoms: collapse of psychic energy, difficulty concentrating, collapse of motivation, drop in self-esteem, anger and resentment; feeling of loss of control; agitation, irritability and nervousness; constant unhappiness and worry.
- physical (or psychosomatic) symptoms: tiredness, insomnia, tachycardia, migraines and headaches, stomach pain and digestive problems, muscle tension and back pain, appetite disorders, etc.
In addition to these symptoms, burnout can lead to (or exacerbate) abuse of alcohol, food, drugs, or psychoactive substances; without the intervention of a professional, social isolation, self-harm, relationship difficulties, anxiety, panic attacks and depression may arise.
Practical advice for managing stress and burnout
Now that we know everything there is to know about work-related stress and burnout, let's identify some ways to manage stress and prevent burnout.
We know that excessive stress can cause mental and physical damage, as well as lead to burnout; but eliminating stress altogether could be counterproductive: Moderate stress levels can have a beneficial effect, helping people be more productive and perform when needed. Instead, we should focus on improving stress management and changing the way we perceive it.
Here are some practical tips for dealing with stress and preventing burnout:
Rest
The biggest tip is to rest. No early rising before cockcrow, no more screens until late at night, ignore the fluffaguru of thehustle cultures: work hard but reserve the right time to rest as you deserve.
Relax with your favorite hobbies
Do you like gardening? Playing with your pets? Do you have a favorite TV series? Do you love walking, or do you simply love relaxing on the sofa? Just do it!
Event professionals should be able to pursue their passions outside of the professional sector, such as hobbies and spending time with the people they love.
Practice deep breathing
The practice of deep breathing is also essential. Many studies have shown how breathing has beneficial effects on our body and mind, helping us to re-establish some natural balances.
Prioritize your needs
We often get caught up in a world where we feel obligated to do everything, all the time, for everyone; and we end up forgetting to take care of ourselves. So start carving out a small space reserved for yourself and ask yourself: What is important to me, how would I like to spend my time?
Set healthy boundaries
It's important to recognize that event professionals have different priorities (like being introverted) and sometimes people don't feel like relating to others all the time. And this is where borders come into play (or Boundaries): knowing yourself and your limits e Don't be afraid to say no. Setting boundaries doesn't make you less competent at your job, whatever it is.
Listen to your body
Don't forget to listen to your body. We must come to understand that our body is an extremely efficient machine and it is very important to listen to it: any "malfunctions" are its signals to communicate that something is wrong. Mental health is not just an abstract concept, but is closely linked to physical well-being.
Seek professional help when you feel you need it
Take the approach that works best for you when managing stress and/or burnout, and work with trained medical professionals whenever necessary.
Leave Dr. Google alone or the advice found on social groups: see a therapist and take care of your mental well-being.
Take care of your physical health
To prevent burnout, recharge your energy and start taking proper care of your physical health too. As? By sleeping well, eating healthy and exercising.
Re-evaluate your workload
If you have entered the early stages of burnout, you need to stop, rest and then start again. Start by reevaluating your workload, and if your to-do list is too long, discuss it with your manager. What do you need to prioritize? What can he wait for? Can something be delegated? Help yourself by using the Eisenhower matrix to make these assessments.
First and foremost, organizations should think about employee wellbeing when planning an event or project, assessing the level of pressure and stress the program may cause.
Conclusions
In conclusion, it is clear that stress and burnout can have extremely negative effects on the personal and working lives of event professionals. Therefore, to manage stress and avoid burnout it is important to cultivate good habits such as: taking care of your mental and physical well-being, establishing healthy boundaries and taking time for yourself.
But to ensure that this problem is reduced to a minimum, companies should also do their part, working together with employees to create a healthy working environment, use tools that help simplify and optimize work, and ensure quality free time to dedicate to your personal life. In this way, the productivity of individuals will also benefit by stimulating ideas and growth.
