From Burnout Culture to Balanced Culture: What Organizations Can Do (Part 1)

A few moons ago I posted an article on what I saw as burnout culture in the international development sector. I had merely scratched the surface of what I realized was phase one of a discussion on professional burnout in sectors prone to extreme performance culture. I realized that there is a system that supports overwork and rewards continuous overtime; so much so, that work life balance remains a unicorn. Consequently, people are left to fend for themselves by practicing self- care in a vacuum while the assumption is that your health is a priority for your organization. Unfortunately, this is not often the case and is not the dominant culture. Fortunately, we have learnt from Chimamanda Adichie that culture is fluid and “people make culture”. What is required is a shift where self-care is not a miracle but a basic standard in the workplace. Work needs to be a place where healthy boundaries are made between work and well-being. This means the organization must change with us. It needs to be a place that actually requires balance as a form of performance.

Since organizations are made up of the individuals shaping the culture, we need fresh, healthy and whole eyes that can teach the organization how to commit to a healthy environment where we work smart and not just hard. This is the first half of my list of 10 steps to healthy that organizations can use in order to care enough to begin to intentionally build a culture of wellness and balance. I kept as many low budget as possible, so that a lack of budget is not an excuse for maintaining the status quo.

1.      Ask an expert: In my recovery, I have enjoyed chatting to the insightful and superbly perceptive Jeanne Muvira. Her advice on what I had to change and what key issues made me prone to exhaustion and burnout have changed my life! If organizations can have people like her highlight where they need help, they can begin to find balance.

2.      The Mean Canteen: While it is good to have a handy healthy lunchbox, it is amazing how many stress accelerating foods we are too exposed to. A ketogenic diet is an ideal starter diet, but the office canteen, cafe and meeting catering need a makeover. It is amazing how one can even work in nutrition project but staff nutrition remains poor. Healthier food does not come cheap but merely shifting how the existing food is prepared can make all the difference.

3. De-stigmatize the Mental Health Day: At one of my old offices, staff received a Me, Myself and I (MMI) Day. Staff had an annual day off that did not get deducted from leave, where one received 25USD worth of rands to treat themselves. Anything from going to the movies, park, sports activities. It allowed one to decompress after a rough patch, have guilt free fun and reset. The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality. This one day a year made all the difference for me back then. Especially for staff with families who have too many responsibilities in every sphere of life, such a day was one of the best things an organization ever gave. It definitely helped staff retention too!

4. Reward staff for managing intense periods: There are peak periods in organizations. The kindest thing leaders can do is to reward staff for overexerting themselves after each craze. The humanitarian space risks constant overexertion, but even this space will need to promote better well-being. Constant overexertion is toxic. I repeat, constant overexertion is toxic and this is the era where detox is critical. Something as small as letting staff come in a little later on the days following the peak period cost nothing and ensure staff give their all when the peaks arise.

5. Treadmill Phone rooms: Some places have already begun to have rooms with treadmills so that people can let off steam and walk as they work. In my experience physical aids like this help staff know that even when busy, they can work on their health. Walking helps de-stress and calm us, and increased breathing is key for a peaceful mind. In roles where one tele-conferences all day this will make a major impact. I worked at call centers and resented the toll sitting all day took on my body. If I had this I would have been more motivated and productive.