HR professionals are not strangers to pressure. The demands on HR teams are at an unprecedented level as the workplace becomes more complex. What is the impact on your mental health and physical well-being?
The 2024 Mental Wellbeing Survey revealed that a harsh reality exists: Nearly half of the respondents had symptoms of burnout and 46% were in clinical depression range. These statistics highlight the need for HR professionals adopt strategies to safeguard their well-being.
Understanding burnout
Burnout is not something that happens overnight. Burnout is the result of long-term workplace stress. This stress can be fueled by unhealthy work habits and high-pressure environments. Chronic stress is a result of persistent demands, little recovery time and a culture that’s always on. Unchecked, it can lead to burnout, a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, marked by feelings like hopelessness, overwhelm, and inability to cope.
You can’t protect your mental health without your allies, both at work and at home.
Stay resilient to avoid burnout
While HR challenges can seem unrelenting at times, proactive strategies will protect you from burnout and improve long-term resilience. Here are seven approaches that have been proven to work. They will help you navigate the year 2025 with confidence and strength.
1. Early warning signs to look out for
It’s not easy to tell if you are at risk of burnout. There are some signs and symptoms you should be aware of. If you catch them early enough, you can avoid burnout.
Stress can be indicated by poor sleep, irritability or anxiety. You may also need caffeine or alcohol to boost your energy. You may have started to avoid social interaction or neglected hobbies that you used to enjoy.
These signals are your body’s warnings to take action. You can prevent stress from spiraling out of control by paying attention to these signs.
2. Request a Stress Risk Assessment
Don’t be afraid to raise the issue if work stress has a significant impact on your health. You can ask your manager or trusted senior colleague to conduct a formal assessment of stress. The Health and Safety Executive offers a comprehensive framework, templates and guidance for these assessments. A structured review will help identify stressors and create actionable plans to address pressure points.
3. Audit Your Calendar
Overwhelm is often the result of trying to do too many things. Perform a calendar review to identify the most important tasks and eliminate those that are not essential. Ask a colleague for help in reprioritising.
Each week, block out time for focused and deep work. Question the necessity of meetings. Many can be replaced by a brief email or even skipped if their purpose has been outlived. If you find yourself working too much, schedule extra time for recovery.
Burnout isn’t an inevitable side effect of being a committed HR practitioner. It’s a sign that something has to change.
4. Shift your work mindset
Ironically, those who are most conscientious and dedicated also tend to be the most susceptible burnout. High achievers tend to be perfectionists, who have unrealistic expectations. This creates a vicious circle of striving for success and eventual disappointment.
Set clear boundaries between work and your personal life to break this cycle. Take regular breaks, go on holidays and honor your commitments to loved ones and yourself. You might consider asking a friend or colleague who you trust to help you maintain balance.
5. Create a network of support
You can protect your mental health by relying on your allies, both at work and home. Building a network of trusted people is essential, whether it’s confiding with a friend, reaching out to a mentor or seeking professional help.
Relationships that provide support can help to reduce stress by providing encouragement, perspective and practical advice. Listen to trusted friends who express concern for your well-being. Don’t undervalue the power of a straight-forward conversation to help you recalibrate and find your feet.
6. Develop resilience skills
Research shows that resilience skills protect against mental health and burnout. This skill set is easily cultivated by following some simple practices.
By savouring positive emotions such as happiness or enjoyment, the parasympathetic system is activated, which reduces stress. In the same way, challenging negative thoughts can help you gain a balanced perspective and reduce feelings of frustration and anxiety.
You can improve your ability to bounce back after challenges by using mindfulness, regular physical activity and self-reflection. Beware of common myths about resilience.
7. Leaders, protect your HR team
Leaders play a crucial role in shaping the workplace culture. Consider implementing systemic mechanisms of support, such as regular supervision.
The supervision process provides a space for structured reflection, skill-development, and emotional processing. This helps your team to navigate through their challenges, while protecting their mental health. It is not just a matter of compassion, but it’s also a way to gain a competitive advantage. You can reduce turnover and improve performance by investing in the wellbeing of your team.
Call to Action
Let’s commit to improving our HR practices as we move into 2025. Burnout isn’t an inevitable result of being a committed HR practitioner. It’s a sign that something has to change.
You’re not only protecting your health by adopting these strategies; you’re setting an example for others. It will create a positive ripple effect in your organization, promoting wellbeing.
Remember that resilience isn’t just about being able to endure constant pressure. It’s also about growing smartly through challenges and gaining self-awareness.
