Dr. Marta Ra is a sustainability, health & well-being expert. She co-founded the international network Women in Sustainable Finance (WISF).
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When burnout rates soared during the height of the pandemic, many of us believed they would subside once we were over the worst of it. Instead, in many instances, burnout continued to rise.
A recent survey from Slack found that 43% of managers are burnt out. In another study conducted by the think tank Conference Board, 77% of companies interviewed noted that there had been an increase in employees identifying as burned out, up from 42% two years prior.
These ever-increasing burnout rates are attributed to numerous factors. For instance, workloads remain high and uncertainty has become "just part of life" in the post-Covid era. But more than that, I think many of us are struggling to understand why we are doing the job we are doing when the future feels so unclear.
In other words, the pandemic left a profound existential crisis in its wake. For example, over four million American workers quit every month in 2022. The top three reasons for leaving were low pay, opportunities for advancement and feeling disrespected at work. Psychologically, these can be translated into needing a sense of security (income), a sense of purpose (advancement) and a sense of community (respect).
In my experience as a sustainability and well-being consultant, I have seen how implementing a longevity mindset into your organization's fabric can help foster meaning and community in the workplace. These factors can translate into increased profits and increased pay. In so doing, burnout rates can decrease and employee satisfaction rise.
What Exactly Is Burnout?
For stress to become a burnout, according to an article on detecting job burnout, there are three key factors: "overwhelming exhaustion, cynicism and detachment from the job, and a sense of ineffectiveness or lack of accomplishment."
Existential therapy has beenshown to be successful at helping people overcome burnout precisely because of its emphasis on meaning. A potent method is Victor Frankl's logotherapy, whose central premise is that humans have an innate drive for meaning and purpose in life. A crucial tenet of his work is that we must find meaning, even in the most challenging circumstances.
How Does This Relate To Longevity?
Simply put, a longevity mindset refers to belief systems and behaviors that promote the company's and its employees' long-term success and well-being. To do that, you need to focus on the big picture or whatever vision the company is working toward. Traditional longevity practices include ongoing development opportunities, flexible work arrangements and an emphasis on cross-generational collaboration.
The same Slack survey cited earlier found that workers with a fully flexible schedule reported 29% higher productivity than their shift-locked counterparts. Another study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that employees who had a greater degree of job crafting had lower levels of burnout and increased job satisfaction.
A longevity mindset can help reduce the prevalence of ageism in the workplace and promotes a long, healthy and engaged career. This creates a more inclusive, respectful and equitable workplace culture that values and supports its employees.
But most importantly, a longevity approach to your company means constantly asking yourself and your team where you want to be in 20, 30 or 40 years. In so doing, you immediately shift your focus from present-day concerns to long-term vision and goals. To understand the value of this, try to do it right now with your own life. Where would you like to see yourself in 20 years? How can you help yourself get to that point?
Typically, asking ourselves these kinds of questions regularly has a twofold effect. First, it decreases our stress levels because it immediately puts us into a big-picture mindset. That helps us focus our energy and minimizes sweating the small stuff.
Secondly, it increases motivation and determination because suddenly, that task we are completing has a meaning attached to it. As a result, a longevity mindset helps to decrease one of the most dangerous symptoms of burnout: a sense of meaninglessness.
A study by Gallup echoes this, noting that when people feel “inspired, motivated and supported in their work … that work is significantly less stressful on their overall health and well-being,” regardless of job requirements or hours worked.
How You Can Implement A Longevity Mindset In Your Organization
Practically speaking, cultivating a longevity mindset in your organization means focusing on sustainable success over quick wins. To do that, I recommend the following:
Focus On Leadership
A company’s leaders must articulate their ideals and visions clearly and effectively. Encourage everyone in a leadership role to see their job as fostering a positive work environment.
To that end, encourage them to promote well-being, diversity, zero-policy tolerance towards discrimination, a work-life balance and, crucially, a sense of purpose. I would also highly recommend considering the inclusion of a longevity chief officer (CLO) in your C-suite team.
Find Growth Opportunities
Try to approach growth from career, community and creativity. For example, ask yourself:
• How can you help them up-skill so that they are well-positioned for a promotion?
• How can you help your employees build trust and ensure everyone works toward the same goals?
• How can you help your employees be as creative as possible?
Measure Success In the Long Term
Set metrics and goals that align with your company's long-term vision. Celebrate the milestones along the way, but always keep your eye on the big picture.
Finally, I remind the reader that feeling a sense of meaninglessness is not abnormal right now. We are living through a challenging period in history that will be remembered for its wars, pandemics, environmental threats and ever-widening political divisions.
These are painful times, and throughout history, pain has always ushered in an era of rigorous re-examination of our values. As a result, feeling like our goals are meaningless serves an evolutionary function; it helps us re-examine those values that weren't serving us. However, if you want to rebuild in the rubble, a longevity mindset — and the hope and motivation that comes with that — are crucial.
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