Quick tangible tips to help resolve burnout in HR professionals  

HR professionals are the beacon of wellbeing in businesses, championing employee mental/physical health as well as work-life balance. 

However, this poses the question: who looks after HR?

In just the last few months, multiple articles on HR burnout have surfaced with headline stats such as ‘a third of HR professionals are considering quitting due to burnout’, and ‘more than 40% of HR teams feel overwhelmed’.  

The goal of this blog isn’t to regurgitate information HR professionals already know. 

However, like with any profession, when work days get hectic and demands increase, you can quickly lose sight of key areas! It can often be beneficial to recap the basics and recentre your approach. 

So, to support, here I’ve highlighted key wellbeing advice from leaders in the mental health space (Mind and Calm), covering some short and easily actionable advice you can look to implement today to support your own wellbeing.

1) Take notice of your own feelings

Mind highlights the importance of self-awareness, advising that it’s an invaluable tool. 

As a starting point, Mind recommends taking notice of how you are feeling throughout the day, identifying what events trigger the most stress and anxiety.

This helps you understand and catch those stressors earlier, enabling you to manage them more effectively.

By knowing what Impacts you the most, you can take proactive steps like:

• Setting boundaries
• Practicing relaxation techniques
• Seeking support

Focusing on the now

Mind also highlighted research that found appreciating ‘the now’ can contribute to an overall more optimistic perspective on life. 

The advice from Mind suggests the following to help you better enjoy the moment and environment around you: 

• Add some greenery to your office with a plant  
• Schedule time for de-cluttering your workspace  
• Practice some breathing exercises and mindfulness 

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2) Reinforce work-life balance best practice

HR professionals know too well the importance of work-life balance.

However, since the pandemic, the world has ‘somewhat’ returned to a state of normality and as such, the importance of work-life balance can now, at times, take a back seat, especially when dealing with a hectic workload.   

Don’t let bad habits re-emerge!

Calm highlights the importance of reinforcing boundaries and emphasises the need to be:

• Taking pauses
• Utilising annual leave
• Detaching from occupational duties when not working  
• Prioritising focus time to minimise distractions
• Keeping work in a dedicated workspace (if possible!)

3) Prioritise activity  

Mind highlighted the vital role physical activity plays in maintaining both mental and physical health, stating that it improves sleep quality, elevates mood and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. 

However, Mind emphasises that it’s not necessarily about hitting the gym every day or striving to run marathons, urging that there are a number of ways to incorporate more activity into your daily routine. 

If you’re looking to integrate more physical activity into your day-to-day, Mind provided the following suggestions:

• Take the stairs over the lift 
• Go for a lunchtime stroll 
• If based on site and feasible, consider walking to work 
• Plan a sporting activity at work (perhaps sign up for a race, either solo or as a collective, using it as an opportunity to also raise money for charity!) 
• Do some stretching exercises throughout your day 
• If working in an office, walk to a colleague’s desk for discussion instead of communicating via call or email 
• Start an after-work company sports team 
• Look to offer physical wellbeing perks, like gym memberships, as part of your employee benefits

Prioritising physical activity can be tough when you’re facing immense demands at work, but committing time, even when you feel stretched, can cascade a multitude of positive benefits. 

Short-term and long-term strategies to tackle burnout in HR 

How can HR be expected to effectively support the workforce when they themselves are struggling? We’re here to lend a helping hand!

In our new guide, we’ve compiled some more short-term strategies you can look to implement as well as long-term changes you can consider to help reduce burnout.

The aim of this new guide is to provide tangible actions you can take away and implement today, as well as some food for thought to improve the future.  

FREE Guide: Who looks after HR? Short-term and long-term strategies to support your team

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Prioritising your wellbeing isn’t just a personal responsibility, it’s an investment in a healthier, happier life.

When we take care of ourselves – physically, mentally and emotionally – we’re much better equipped to support others and contribute positively to the world around us.