Recently I attended an event “Keep The Fire Burning: A Symposium For Professional Caregivers” organized by Institute of Mental Health (IMH). It was also a joint celebration of the 2nd Social Workers’ Day and IMH’s 80th Anniversary. The event involved group discussions and presentations by IMH’s Psychologist and Medical Social Worker (MSW). Overall it was a fruitful day, especially the presentation “Keeping The Temperature In Check: Balancing Your Multi-Faceted Professional Role In Mental Health” by Senior MSW Mr. Terence Yow.
Throughout the presentation, I have a strange feeling that it was prepared with me in mind. Let’s see what are the signs that indicate that you are feeling burnt out.
1) Frequently stressed and exhausted.
[Let’s see, more white hairs, dozing off during meetings, etc. Ticked.]
2) Dreading to go to work.
[Used to reach my office at 8.30 am sharp, then 8.45 am, 9 am, 9.15 am ... you get the picture. Ticked.]
3) Thinking about career change.
[Have been updating my resume on a monthly basis. Ticked.]
4) Neglecting other parts of life i.e. family, friends, hobbies …
[I’ve closed my online poetry forum recently. And when was the last time I have coffee with my friends? 2007? Ticked.]
5) No time to catch your breath at work.
[Catch a breath at work? More like catching a cold. Ticked.]
6) Losing sight why you chose this job/career.
[Under the heading "Occupation" I have started to declare myself as an "Applications Processing Machine". Beep beep. Ticked.]
7) No time to develop interests and hobbies.
[Unless you consider writing social reports as a hobby. Ticked]
8) Often feeling exhausted.
[Please refer to the 1st point. Ticked.]
9) Spending more and more time at work.
[Let’s see, although officially my working hours are from Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 6 pm. I usually leave office at 7 – 8 pm and spend most of the Saturdays back in the office working. Never trust that HR guy during the interview. Ticked.]
10) Often bringing work home.
[Ha Ha, better than bringing woman home right? Just kidding dear, er dear? Darling? Honey? Ticked]
Okay, it is official. I am burnt out. Time to register myself as a missing person.
4 comments:
wow, that looks bad. but at least you are writing again. :)
it's easy for me to say "take it easy", so ignore me. :)
i think i am burnt out too, though the workload during the past months was not so bad. comes july, it will be bad, because we have some BIG projects lined up. get a sweat just thinking about it.
Yup, I've been trying to catch up with my writing. But there is actually no hurry. You have to find enjoyment in every post. If not, what's the use of having a blog? ;p
yupe.. easy for me to say "take it easy", i'm taking it easy everyday...hehehehe...don't you just hate me?? wink wink
Hate you? No way. ;p
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