Have You Lost Your Passion for Work?

Posted on Oct 24, 2020 Topic : Men's Christian Living, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Amy O'Hana

And have we, as a country and world, ever thought about that question so deeply as we have in 2020?

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything about work. For some of us, it meant that our burnout got better. Perhaps a new schedule or work environment shifted the amount of pressure we had, lessened a difficult commute, or allowed us to get household chores done in between business meetings.

For others, the pandemic increased burnout; we just simply moved the disconnection home. Not only did we continue to deal with the same work problems – we had to solve them while competing for internet bandwidth while our children learned algebra alongside us at the dining room table. Have you ever tried to lead a Zoom meeting with a new puppy throwing up on the carpet right next to you, or tried to negotiate with an older parent who thinks that since you are home you must be available to take them to the grocery store?

Talk about burnout! It’s burnout…and beyond.

Now you may be thinking…burnout…am I burned out? Burnout is always about work, and if you felt emotionally exhausted, physically depleted, or cynical before the pandemic, perhaps you were experiencing work burnout then. But crisis adds a whole new layer to these feelings. Now there’s other emotions accompanying the pandemic, and it may feel totally overwhelming.

Burnout is always related to work. While its symptoms may look like depression or another mental or emotional problem, it is not depression. In “normal” situations (e.g., no world pandemic or other crises), the work issues in burnout are easy to identify. But with the added layers, it’s important to address all of the emotions you are experiencing.

The good news? The fix is the same. Reconnect—with God, yourself, and with your relationship with work. Even though the cause of all the emotions are different, by integrating back into yourself you will find wholeness.

May you reconnect with your God-given passion for work once again.