Middle-age Britons are dropping out of the workforce in record numbers.
The Times
Body & Soul
Gerry Gajadharsingh writes:
“At The Health Equation, just as we launch our business/corporate presentations titled, “Bounce back to well-being”, the article below reminds us of the enormous effects of the pandemic outside of COVID 19 infection.
There is no doubt that as employees start increasing their time back in their offices, they will be looking for their employers to help them support their well-being, which of course is a no brainer as it benefits both the employee and the company.
Whilst I read with amusement about sleeping pods and all sorts of other expensive products being targeted at companies, there is an enormous amount that individuals can do for themselves. As always, these things work best as a partnership between the employer providing the right environment (physical and values) and the individuals taking responsibility for at least some of their own well-being.
In 35 years of clinical practice, I’ve never seen the level of anxiety that patients are presenting with, many underlying a plethora of physical symptoms.
Below are just a few of the thought-provoking paragraphs in the article below:
Post-pandemic employees now “crave investment in the human aspects of work.
What is driving this exodus of over-50s? Much of it appears to be psychological and emotional burnout, thanks to the immense stresses of middle-age life under Covid.
The resulting damage may be physical as well as psychological. A broad analysis of previous study evidence, in the journal PLOS One in 2017, found burnout was associated with serious health problems such as increased coronary heart disease, obesity and musculoskeletal pain.
It seems that once burnout has made us severely sensitised to stress, we need to tackle the causes rather than try to rebuild our resilience against them. Experts agree that the best way to address burnout is to turn down the heat — or move away from the fire.
If you want further information on our corporate well-being presentations please go to”
https://www.thehealthequation.co.uk/corporate-well-being-presentations-bounce-back-to-well-being/
Just when we thought we had the pandemic beaten, it brings a further wave of pain: we are burning out and dropping out en masse. New figures show that midlife Britain is in peril of doing a Reggie Perrin — leaving its work clothes piled on the beach and disappearing.
Official figures last week showed that since the start of the pandemic in 2020, nearly a quarter of a million Britons aged between 50 and 65 have left paid work altogether and are not actively seeking new jobs.
What is driving this exodus of over-50s? Much of it appears to be psychological and emotional burnout, thanks to the immense stresses of middle-age life under Covid. Experts say that post-pandemic burnout is also fuelling a new need to start working life afresh with altered priorities.
Burnout is the name given to the host of symptoms caused by persistently being subjected to an overwhelmingly stressful environment. Physical signs include fatigue, aches, headaches and digestive problems, alongside psychological effects such as exhaustion and deep disillusionment.
Experts say there are three main categories: “frenetic” burnout, when peaks of overwork and emotional overload become too much to bear; “worn-out burnout”, when we are ground down by heavy demands that persist over time; and “bore out”, when we feel consistently underchallenged or underworked.
During the pandemic, the first two categories dogged over-50s with unprecedented intensity. “Midlifers are the group that had the most challenging of times,” says Ben Harrison, the director of the Work Foundation, a think tank for improving work in the UK.
“They are more likely to have had additional caring responsibilities, combining work with home schooling and supporting their own parents, so they faced the greatest stress and anxiety.”
The early signs of burnout can be creeping and insidious, because it affects us emotionally and we may not notice our reactions to stress intensifying and distorting. A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry last year by investigators at the Yale School of Medicine reports that there are three primary symptoms of early burnout: increasing levels of fatigue, irritability and cynicism.
The strongest predictor of burnout is feeling constantly tired and lacking one’s normal energy, says the study of more than 3,300 people. Cynicism has a double-edged effect, the report warns, as it not only drains our morale but also causes the most problems with work.
Irritability, meanwhile, is a big cause of relationship problems at home. These symptoms can fuel each other, precipitating a dark spiral into even greater negativity until we feel we cannot continue — leaving us burnt out and feeling that we have to drop out.
Such are the traditional problems of workplace burnout, and thanks to the constant and uncontrollable personal stresses of the past two years, millions more midlifers have been pushed to the brink.
Life under lockdown not only fuelled widespread burnout but exacerbated its common symptoms, says Almuth McDowall, a professor of organisational psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. “When you’re healthily feeling stressed, you can feel hyper-focused. But when you’re burnt out, everything seems grey and leaden,” she explains. “Rather than feeling enthusiastic, you’re just take-it-or-leave-it.
“As a response you withdraw socially and feel increasingly cynical. Everyday things that were once easy feel much harder to achieve. The stress and isolation of lockdown have also made people feel and act like this, so burnout and lockdown may blur into each other.”
The resulting damage may be physical as well as psychological. A broad analysis of previous study evidence, in the journal PLOS One in 2017, found burnout was associated with serious health problems such as increased coronary heart disease, obesity and musculoskeletal pain. To worsen matters, sufferers’ levels of drinking spiralled while physical activity plummeted.
All the more reason to try exercise as a tonic for burnout symptoms. German researchers from the University of Cologne reported last year in the journal Physiology & Behavior how their study of 99 adults found that 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, such as cycling, is significantly better at helping us to recover from mental exhaustion than relaxing physically or watching television.
Previous study evidence indicates that 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise can improve memory, reasoning and organisational abilities when we are feeling intellectually and emotionally frazzled.
More serious symptoms of severe burnout may not be so amenable, however. Another German study, by sports scientists at Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg, examined the available research evidence and concluded that exercise does not help with entrenched symptoms.
It seems that once burnout has made us severely sensitised to stress, we need to tackle the causes rather than try to rebuild our resilience against them. Experts agree that the best way to address burnout is to turn down the heat — or move away from the fire.
In practical terms, that often means taking more control of our work life, for example by setting our own schedules, working more from home and creating boundaries, such as not responding to emails outside work hours.
After the pandemic, such needs are causing a clamour among hard-pressed midlifers for more emotionally sustainable and rewarding working conditions. So says a survey of British, American and Canadian workers conducted last September by the global management consulting firm McKinsey. Post-pandemic employees now “crave investment in the human aspects of work. They want a renewed and revised sense of purpose. They want social and interpersonal connections with their colleagues and managers. They want to feel a sense of shared identity. They want meaningful interactions, not just transactions,” it says.
It’s quite a wish list. And at the same time, we have been struck by another massive work-life disruption: the digital age has fully arrived, hitting fiftysomethings with a vengeance. So says Steven Sylvester, a chartered psychologist and former professional cricketer who helps businesses and top athletes to cope with fundamental changes.
“The conventional way of working is finished,” he says. “The pandemic has accelerated the digital way of operating. Virtual meetings mean you don’t have to commute, travel the country or the globe. Businesses are looking at new ways of working in this environment.
“A young and different labour force with a different way of working and thinking is coming in. “It puts a big pressure on over-50s, who are very often not seen to be part of the future solution. This is daunting, but the big question is: how can you turn it into an opportunity? Reinvention is the challenge now for midlifers.”
Indeed, how do we pick ourselves up after pandemic burnout to pioneer new and more satisfying ways to work in midlife? In 1978 Neil Young sang: “It’s better to burn out than to fade away.” Fortunately, our options are far more positive than that — see the expert tips below.
What you can do to help yourself
Eat foods that are good for gut health — such as live yoghurt, oats, apples, root vegetables and lentils. Studies published in the journal General Psychiatry have shown that a healthy gut can reduce anxiety.
Meditate for ten minutes a day A review of studies in the journal Clinical Psychology Review found strong evidence that people who meditate are less likely to react with negative thoughts in times of stress. Try a meditation app such as Headspace or Ten Percent Happier.
Exercise daily Moderate aerobic exercise, such as cycling for 30 minutes, is more effective in helping us to recover from mental exhaustion than flopping down and watching television.
Get more (and better) sleep Don’t look at your phone after 9pm and aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep. A study published by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts found that going to bed at the same time every night helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, allowing you to fall asleep more easily and have a better quality of sleep.
Drink less coffee Research published in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior found that caffeine can mimic the stress hormone cortisol in the body.
Don’t look at your phone as soon as you wake up — it adds to mental exhaustion. Do something relaxing before you start work; go for a walk or listen to an audiobook.
Reduce alcohol consumption It has a negative effect on sleep quality and can contribute to feelings of low mood.
Eat a protein-rich breakfast Studies show this can stabilise blood sugar, meaning we run on the body’s fat stores rather than the survival metabolism. This signals to the body that we are safe rather than in crisis, allowing us to feel calmer, and reduces levels of adrenaline.
Pay attention to your breathing A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that taking deep breaths and focusing on the breath reduces feelings of stress and levels of cortisol in the body.
Prioritise fulfilment outside work They are often the things that fall by the wayside first but investing in hobbies and seeing friends are key in warding off stress and boosting mood.
Spot the signs
You may feel that your mood is consistently low, or have increased feelings of irritability, hopelessness, anger, sadness or cynicism.
You feel exhausted from the point when you wake up, and struggle with low energy levels all day.
You experience increased levels of physical pain, such as aches, musculoskeletal pain and headaches.
You have digestive problems.
You begin to feel overwhelmed by tasks at work that once felt manageable or feel that you are unable to cope.
You struggle to sleep or are finding that your quality of sleep is poor.
You have a feeling of dissatisfaction with your life achievements.
You develop an inability to focus or concentrate on tasks, coupled with poor memory.
You feel the urge to withdraw socially, or that you lack enthusiasm to make the effort to see friends.
Your levels of alcohol consumption have increased.
You experience increased levels of anxiety, panic attacks or compulsive behaviour.