Experts say learning to say no can prevent burnout
Career experts recommend establishing workplace boundaries to prevent burnout, as research found that 9 in 10 workers experienced extreme pressure in the past year. Professionals who struggle to decline additional responsibilities risk exhaustion and reduced performance that can escalate into clinical burnout.
Career coach Helen Tupper advises replacing the phrase “I cannot” with “I do not” when refusing tasks, as the latter discourages negotiation. Television chef Lorraine Pascale attributed her burnout to taking on excessive commitments while running her patisserie, publishing cookbooks, and raising her daughter. Her condition produced physical symptoms and an aversion to her profession before therapy revealed the origins of her perfectionism.
NHS psychiatrist Richard Duggins encourages workers to discuss capacity limitations with supervisors, regardless of their position within the organization. Employers typically accommodate boundary requests when they recognize that preventing burnout benefits operations. Workers in unsupportive environments may need to seek alternative employment to protect their mental health.
