Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
He claims he wants to drop everything and take the family back to France. But in the
back of his mind he knows that at 47 it would not be easy for him to find another good
position. “And anyway, I don't know whether I really want to move back home.”
Gerard is experiencing “burnout”. Burnout is a common term for an extreme form of
stress, which occurs when pressures build up and are left untreated over a long period.
He feels mentally and physically exhausted and that he has reached his limit. A person
may feel fatigued, withdrawn, unmotivated, short-tempered, cynical, easily irritated, and
depressed. Even recreation becomes difficult, as he may have lost all enthusiasm for life.
Gerard blames his job and the environment and ignores the real causes of his exhaustion.
Burnout is caused not from without but from within. Usually it originates from a general
feeling of incessant routine with no end in sight. Feeling that life is one unending series of
responsibilities, with no time for oneself and little enthusiasm for anything else, a person
easily feels overwhelmed and trapped. Prolonged burnout can damage a person's mental
health.
Moving away will not remove burnout. In fact, it is unwise to make any drastic decisions
because people usually cannot view things objectively in this state of mind. Gerard is likely
thinking of Paris as a haven. Naturally, he will focus on the good things there and totally
forget things that might have annoyed him in the past. With such notions in mind, reloca-
tion might turn out to be a big disappointment and disaster.
The only lasting cure for burnout is a change in attitude and lifestyle. The first step is to
tackle the feeling of being trapped, by altering the routine, removing some of the obvious
stresses and actively making the present situation more tolerable. This can include: cutting
down outside business meetings, delegating duties to trusted personnel, limiting phone in-
takes, getting more sleep and not forgetting to give oneself a treat occasionally. This way,
the person can regain a sense of control over the situation.
Breaking the routine is essential to tackle burnout. It would be helpful to take a vacation
as soon as possible, to refresh both body and mind and regain a sense of balance. However,
this is easier said than done for many people. It often takes a concerted effort to pull your-
self away from work or duty. A holiday may not be beneficial for the job in the short run,
but it will definitely be beneficial for your mental health and performance in the long run.
In Gerard's case, leaving China may be one of many options for change. But instead of
immediately rushing into such a major decision, it is advisable to explore first. Taking a
brief trip home will give him and the family a more realistic idea of the advantages and
disadvantages of relocating.
Burnout is a signal that something needs attention. Avoiding dealing with it may damage
your mental health. Obviously, running away will not resolve it either.
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