ANGLER. Acrylic on canvas. By Grant Smith, Reuters data journalist, New York
Stress can keep us motivated and ‘on’ so we can function. Most journalists manage stress, and some thrive on it. However, an overload of stress can be burdensome and in some cases lead to burnout, notes CiC, Reuters’ 24/7 global trauma support provider and counselling service.
No one at Reuters – whether they cover central banks, sports, politics or war zones – should think of themselves as immune to stress or burnout.
Reuters journalists can take this e-learning module prepared by CiC. Below are passages from the e-learning on the topics of stress and burnout.
Stress and Burnout
There are several levels of stress. Knowing the signs can often pre-empt a deterioration in your wellbeing.
Basic stress
Stress may arise from the circumstances of your life and career. Experience of trauma or existing conditions such as depression may influence your capacity to cope with future stress.
Some reactions may include:
Physical: Fatigue, headaches, poor sleep.
Mental: Forgetfulness, poor concentration, boredom.
Relational: Loneliness, withdrawal, intolerance.
Behavioral: Substance abuse, eating problems, overwork, missed deadlines.
Spiritual: Emptiness, loss of beliefs, cynicism.
Cumulative Stress
This is the most frequent form of stress experienced by journalists. It is not necessarily traumatic, and can comprise factors that build over time, eroding your resilience and productivity. Prolonged exposure without adequate rest, relaxation or other self-care strategies may have negative results. Cumulative stress can worsen during crisis news coverage or long-running stories.
Once the symptoms of cumulative stress are identified, one can find ways to reduce the causes and develop better coping strategies.
Routine cumulative stresses can contribute to the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Addressing cumulative stress with effective self-care and a robust support system can help one handle any traumas experienced.
Burnout
Burnout is a process, not an event. A build-up of cumulative stress slowly depletes one’s natural resources for coping. One’s system says enough is enough. Burnout often hits the most dedicated and motivated and can be characterised by deep exhaustion and a profound sense of disillusionment.
The sense of failure and frustration that comes with burnout can be overwhelming. While time off and rest can address the physical exhaustion, regaining enthusiasm for life can take longer.
Members of the Reuters peer network recommend their favorite resources for learning more about burnout:
TED talk- Burnout is everyone’s problem
https://www.ted.com/talks/worklife_with_adam_grant_burnout_is_everyone_s_problem
Why the WHO’s Decision to Redefine Burnout is Important
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/burnout-definition-world-health-organization#5
Burnout Prevention and Treatment (incl. Stress vs. Burnout)
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm
How Leaders Can Confront The Three Faces of Burnout
When Passion Leads to Burnout
https://hbr.org/2019/07/when-passion-leads-to-burnout
Burnout and PTSD - Dr. Geri Puleo – February 2014 (20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFkI69zJzLI
Some personal anecdotes from Reuters journalists on dealing with stress and burnout:
Veteran Reuters correspondent Andy Cawthorne wrote about his battle with burnout in this blog: Newsroom burnout. Charting a way out.
In this blog, Dean Yates, Reuters’ former head of mental health and wellbeing strategy, urges his colleagues not to compare their stress to someone else. “Don’t get into the comparison game. You might play down your symptoms… We all experience stress and trauma differently. We all have our breaking point,” he writes.
Grant Smith, Reuters data journalist, New York: “Spending time in nature is how I recover from work-related and other stress and disconnect from the demands of our digital world. The work phone stays in the truck or at home when I go fishing, a pastime I find especially rejuvenating.”
© 2024 Reuters. All Rights Reserved | Site Feedback | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy