Get physical to fight employee burnout

Burnout was a recognized workplace issue long before COVID-19 threw life into turmoil. In 2013, the World Health Organization predicted a global burnout pandemic would occur within the next decade. But two years of COVID-related anxiety, workplace disruptions, and the stress of balancing work demands with family needs have elevated burnout concerns to crisis level.

It’s a near certainty that burnout is having an impact on your workplace, considering that last year 89% of employees reported experiencing occupational burnout over the previous year, and 27% of those said they experience burnout “all of the time.” By comparison, just 23% of employees reported feeling burned out at work very often or always in 2018, and 44% reported feeling burned out sometimes.

Those elevated burnout levels come at a cost for employers and employees. Burned out employees are 63% more likely to take a sick day and more than twice as likely to be actively seeking another job. In fact, 40% of job turnover is due to stress. Even when they are at work, burned out employees may not be fully focused. Burned out employees cost employers an estimated $3,400 for every $10,000 in salary because of disengagement.

For employees, burnout makes them 23% more likely to visit the emergency room and contributes to more serious mental illness including depression and anxiety, which can impact relationships at work and at home. Further, patients with major depression may spend an average of $10,836 a year on health costs. That is more than twice the $4,800 a person with diabetes taking insulin might spend to manage their condition in a given year.

Physical activity boosts mental wellbeing

Burnout is a complex issue, and employers who wish to reduce burnout in their workforce need a multifaceted approach. An important first step, though, includes supporting employees’ physical fitness. There is evidence, for example, that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing. Exercise also increases self-confidence and improves sleep, which further supports mental health. In some cases, exercise can even be as effective as anti-depressants.

Given those benefits, exercise is a potentially important and cost-effective alternative for addressing mental health in an environment where Americans spent $225 billion on mental health care in 2019, an increase of 52% since 2009. That includes both therapy and prescription medications, as well as stays in psychiatric or substance abuse rehabilitation facilities. By comparison, supporting mental health with physical activity may be as easy as encouraging employees to be more active.

Importantly, that activity doesn’t have to be exhausting to have a positive impact on mental health. Experts suggest that adults should be active for 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate physical activity each week or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity. The key, then, is to find ways to encourage employees to get out and move. With regular exercise, employees should start feeling better in four to six weeks and achieve maximum impact after about 10 weeks.

Employers can make a difference

Employers can encourage activity by offering solutions like on-demand, virtual fitness that give employees access to a range of activities appropriate for users of all ages and ability levels without requiring them to schedule their day around trips to the gym. As an added benefit, virtual fitness that engages an employee’s family can help reduce stressors at home that might otherwise carry over into the workplace – particularly when home is the workplace for many employees.

Here are five tips to help employees successfully manage mental health and reduce feelings of burnout through physical activity.

1. Help employees define boundaries and timing for self-care, exercise, and nutrition. Finding the time and motivation to exercise is a significant hurdle for many people, especially if they’re just starting out. Encourage employees to start small to establish easy victories that they can build from. That may include creating fitness groups in the office, sending reminders in corporate communications, or providing resources like on-demand, virtual fitness classes that allow employees to explore activities that meet both their interests and their ability level. Even better, on-demand classes are available to employees on their schedule.
2. Cover all elements of physical fitness. Variety is important in any exercise plan. Some people may not have a single type of exercise they love, and even people who are dedicated cyclists, runners, or weightlifters will benefit from a mix that includes cardio, strength, and flexibility. Encourage employees to make all forms of fitness part of their routine. Virtual fitness classes are useful here because they offer a range of activities so employees can take a yoga class one day and a high-intensity interval class the next.
3. Celebrate wellbeing wins. Committing to a physical fitness routine isn’t easy, and feeling like nobody recognizes your efforts makes it that much harder. To help, find ways to celebrate employees’ wellbeing wins. For example, you might reward participation in a group fitness challenge or completion of an outside event like a marathon, fun run, or triathlon. Mention accomplishments in corporate communications or offer appropriate rewards, such as workout gear or clothing.
4. Unite employees in a common goal. Exercise doesn’t have to be solitary. In fact, when people work out with a friend they feel more motivated and more adventurous, and they’re more consistent in their activity. It can even create a little healthy competition. Creating groups within the workplace allows like-minded employees to build an exercise support system. Similarly, group fitness challenges – especially tied to a charitable donation or other community involvement – brings people together to accomplish something worthwhile.
5. Encourage employees to make stretching a part of their day. If employees are going to be more active, it’s important to help them keep their body flexible and ready to move. Otherwise, they risk muscle strains, sprains, or worse. Prepare employees with some easy stretches, or offer on-demand, virtual fitness with classes that cover basic and advanced stretching activities, including quick breaks employees can use to work out the kinks of a long day at their desk.

Related: Employee productivity is up, but so is burnout

The connection between mental and physical wellbeing is complex, but undeniable. Feeling better physically can boost mental wellbeing, while good mental health makes it easier to maintain physical fitness. With a few simple strategies to support physical fitness, employers can help their workforce make important progress in boosting and maintaining good mental health, reducing burnout, and improving employee satisfaction and retention.

Becky Cutraro, group fitness coach and Wellbeats instructor, has been a leader in the fitness industry for over 20 years.