05/03/2024

When Meaningful Work Backfires

Being over-engaged can come with some potential risks

It is easy to let high stress steal our full attention. Often, high stress leaves us vulnerable to a dysregulated, unproductive state. This means we need reliable resources we can connect to in order to renew and maintain our mental, emotional, and physical energy, and to help us recover from work stressors that, left unchecked, can make us vulnerable to burnout.

As a burnout researcher, my work has been focused on pinpointing the most reliable and effective resources people can connect to in order to protect themselves from burnout. I’ve conducted hundreds of in-depth interviews with people who experience high stress at work, but they are not burned out.

From my research, I found that those who have a deep, lasting connection with their purpose and a sense that they are engaged in meaningful work are significantly less vulnerable to burnout. Yet, while having a high level of engagement with your work can protect you from burnout, being over-engaged in meaningful work can come with some potential risks.

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.