A big project lands on your desk on a Friday at 3 p.m., and the boss needs it done by Monday morning. Emails need responses before the weekend, and you have to leave in an hour to pick up the kids from practice.
You want to ask for help, but your co-workers’ calendars are as packed with color blocks as the Lego towers scattering your floor. You dream of a long vacation under the covers in a dark room, but you haven’t seen anyone take time off in you don’t know how long. Visions of ranching in West Texas creep into your periphery, and you just might do it.
You’re not alone.
Nearly half of Dallas workers are feeling more burned out this year than in 2022, according to a new survey by consulting firm Robert Half. Tech workers, millennials aged 27 to 42 and working parents are feeling it the most.
Most attribute burnout to heavy workloads (59%), but working conditions also play a role, the survey shows. One in 4 survey respondents (27%) say they lack sufficient tools and resources to work effectively and 1 in 5 (22%) want more communication and support from their managers.
“As companies slow down the pace of hiring and speed up new initiatives, workers may feel increasingly overwhelmed,” said Thomas Vick, the Dallas-based regional director at Robert Half. “It’s important that companies look for ways to utilize their technologies to create efficiencies that could lighten the workload. Put thought into capabilities that your technology has that you might not be using or might not have implemented.”
In Dallas, workers say they also struggle to address and alleviate burnout. Of those surveyed, 42% say they’re uncomfortable speaking to their bosses about burnout, and many lack opportunities for restorative time off.
“What’s most surprising from our research is that despite feeling burnout, 31% of Dallas workers can’t take time off this summer and for those who are, many of them said they will be checking in with work frequently,” Vick said.
The survey also shows that workers who feel supported by management are encouraged to take time off, allowed flexibility in their schedules and given guidance about how to prioritize work projects.
Vick said employers can use this information to help reduce burnout. Other strategies include hiring full-time contract professionals and part-time workers to lighten workloads, modeling work-life balance for employees and demonstrating trust by giving employees more autonomy and flexibility in their scheduling.
“This will help teams that are stretched thin and ultimately can help alleviate burnout and reduce the risk of losing top talent,” Vick said.
And workers should be encouraged to advocate for what they need from their employer.
“If you have too much on your plate, talk to your manager about your workload and ask for help,” Vick said.
He also reeled off a list of other stress-relieving techniques.
“Carve out time blocks rather than trying to juggle multiple tasks at once. Schedule periods throughout the day to focus on key assignments but also step away from your desk. Go for a walk or if you can’t get outside, look away from the computer and focus on a non-work-related activity for a few minutes. Lastly, it’s important to request time off to recharge.”
