The Great Resignation
Many people are exhausted. Overwhelmed. Irritated. Agitated. Unfulfilled. Feeling listless. I had been seeing it with my clients over and over and over again. Even more so, I was feeling it myself. “What is going on?,” I kept asking myself. It felt like no matter how much rest I got, this perpetual feeling of exhaustion would not leave. My clients were feeling stuck at jobs that didn’t value them. They felt ignored. Taken advantage of. And the worst part: they were left unable to properly care for themselves. And I could relate all too well. Enter burnout. That icky feeling of prolonged exhaustion brought on by extreme amounts of stress. It makes you feel as though no matter what you do, it’s not enough. You’re still tired. Still unmotivated. And still unhappy.
They coined the term “The Great Resignation” as many employers were noticing a mass exodus of employees since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to NPR, “…people are leaving their jobs in search of more money, more flexibility and more happiness. Many are rethinking what work means to them, how they are valued, and how they spend their time. It's leading to a dramatic increase in resignations — a record 4 million people quit their jobs in April alone, according to the Labor Department.” By the end of July 2021 that number skyrocketed to just under 11 million. It started during the height of the pandemic as many people in the food and beverage industry were working obscene amounts of overtime due to short staffing with very little pay. When I started doing initial research on this phenomenon, I felt seen. It wasn’t just me. It wasn’t just my friends or my clients. It was 11 million people! We were ALL experiencing a collective trauma that left us in a perpetual state of exhaustion. Many people took the initiative to prioritize their mental health by leaving jobs that didn’t value them.
My hope is that this unprecedented time in history can lead to a few changes in the way our society operates. First, employers learn to truly value their employees and allow them opportunities to prioritize their mental health. Maybe increasing PTO, covering mental health benefits on insurance plans, allowing employees to set their own schedule, or reducing the number of demands and responsibilities. Secondly, increasing the value of employees through compensation. Let’s face it, we need to start paying people their worth! It is very expensive to live in the US and the majority of people work multiple jobs just to keep the lights on. Many employers are complaining of a labor shortage. But no, it’s not a labor shortage. People have realized they no longer have to work for pennies and are rightfully demanding to earn more. And lastly, I hope that US culture can shift from a productivity mindset to a purpose mindset. Can we go from “What do you do?” to “How do you take care of yourself?” Can we place a greater emphasis on how people find fulfillment and value as opposed to their ability to juggle multiple hats, operate on limited amounts of sleep, and deprioritize emotional wellness.
So ask yourself: how will I start taking care of myself?
- Dr. Tiffany Clomax
