In recent months, I have observed a worrying trend among my friends and acquaintances: More and more people are struggling with their mental health. In the last two months alone, I have heard from three acquaintances that they are suffering or have suffered from burnout. The number of people affected seems to be steadily increasing, and this is not just a snapshot in time (in 2022, the AOK recorded an average of 6.8 cases of incapacity to work per 1,000 members due to a burnout diagnosis). How did it get this far? Do we live in a society that pushes us to our limits due to the constant pressure to perform?
The silent crisis: Mental health in modern society
Burnout is not a sudden illness, but the result of a gradual process. There are many factors that can contribute to it, and it often begins with subtle signs that are easily overlooked. Studies show that burnout progresses in several stages, often described as the twelve stages of burnout. These range from persistent fatigue and emotional exhaustion to total despair and the loss of all enjoyment of life. The pressure we feel in our performance-oriented society intensifies these processes. Our imprints and the way we have learned to deal with ourselves and stress play a decisive role in this.
Anyone who has experienced a burnout often describes themselves as a different person - before, during and after the burnout. This change in nature is not easy to accept. Suddenly you are faced with the question: Who am I without my title? Without my achievements? It is an overwhelming experience that leads to a deep confrontation with yourself. Many people report that they become more open to topics such as personal development, mindfulness or even spiritual practices such as yoga in the time before burnout. But the real problem is that the mental exhaustion goes so deep that at the end of the burnout there is often no energy left to actively tackle the urgently needed change. It takes a lot of time.
Stories from acquaintances: From burnout to redefining life
I remember an acquaintance who had an impressive CV and a six-figure income. One day, however, she sat in front of her computer screen and just couldn't work anymore. She stared at the screen all day, unable to do a single task. In the evening, she went to the hospital because she thought she was having a stroke. It turned out to be "just" a burnout. Before the burnout, she had been responsible for hundreds of employees, and on the day of the diagnosis she wasn't even able to make herself a coffee. She is now mentally healthy again, the burnout was a few years ago. In the meantime, she has completely turned her life around: from dinners with board members to walks in the woods with her dog. But the road to recovery was long and arduous.
Another story concerns a friend who was so engrossed in his work that neither he nor his family noticed how he was slowly slipping into burnout. Today, he has completely turned his life around, focusing on spending time with his family and himself. Stories like this are no longer a rarity.
How soft.fact strengthens mental health and prevents burnout
This is where soft.fact comes in. Our scientifically based soft.ware offers a preventative approach to promoting mental health within the company. By analyzing and reflecting on personality, values, motives and other soft facts, employees are encouraged to take a closer look at themselves. This leads to better self-awareness and self-regulation, which significantly reduces the risk of burnout.
With our soft.ware, we can indirectly measure signs of mental stress and intervene at an early stage. If employees are made aware in good time of how they can reflect on their performance pressure, for example, a possible but necessary change process will be much smoother. We also integrate soft facts such as mindfulness, resilience, working methods and responsibility into our analysis. As a result, the focus is not just on performance, but on the person as a whole.
Bringing humanity back into focus
With mental health increasingly at risk, it is more important than ever to focus on people themselves - not just their performance. soft.fact supports organizations in promoting sustainable development that protects and strengthens mental health. It is time to take responsibility and take preventative measures before burnout occurs.
Want to find out more? Try our soft.ware now for free and see for yourself.
