The Emotional Burnout of a Customer Service Job
My day started at sunset for 8 years. I left for work when the rest of the world was driving home. I trudged through the busy city streets, apron tied around my waist under my coat. My hair tied back tightly, and my sneakers from gym class holding together by sheer luck.
I walk through the backdoor of the old building into the familiar aroma of spices and smoke. The clang of pots and pans, the distinct, clear instructions being shouted from one side of the kitchen to the other. I hear the squeaking of shoes on a wet floor running about, servers collecting full plates onto long outstretched arms.
I skip down the staircase to the basement and hang my coat and bag in a locker with my name on it. I take a quick look in the mirror and my breath catches in my throat. I will not stop moving for the next 10 hours. I will not stop planning for the next 10 hours. I will not have a moment to grab a drink of water for the next 10 hours. If you've ever worked in the food industry, or other customer service jobs, you may know this feeling.
I just started my first 9–5 and the intense difference in schedule has only highlighted my belief in the ways service workers are disregarded. This is not a new topic, and this will probably not change anytime soon. While we can't control how others treat us, we can control how we treat ourselves.
Here are seven ways in which service workers can take care of themselves and lessen the emotional and physical burnout that is guaranteed with the job:
1. Pack your own lunch
So many of us who work in the food industry take advantage of the free food available to us before or after our shift, but what seems like an advantage can actually be what's holding you back. Food is vital to our energy levels, mood, and stability throughout the day, and more often than not the kind of food your job is supplying is not the kind of fuel your body requires on a day to day basis. Healthy, nutrient dense, energy filled food is essential to feeling your best throughout the day.
2. Get consistent sleep
What seems like the most obvious healthy habit is often the most overlooked. Maintaining a sleep schedule that ensures you are getting the most out of your rest is so important when it comes to avoiding burnout. Finding balance between too much and too little sleep can help with energy levels and mood throughout your work day. Especially if you are able to keep a schedule where you are sleeping the same hours every night continuously, this will ensure you get the most out of your night.
3. Avoid Stimulants
Caffeine and nicotine. These can make or break you when working in an industry that requires more doing then resting. Quick bursts of energy may seem like the best solution to the long hours, but they may be the exact thing making them feel so long. What feels like instant relief can actually be the thing making you anxious in the first place, as we all know excessive caffeine and nicotine can create symptoms of anxiety.
4. Nature and finding stillness
The environment of a customer service job is often loud and hectic. Incorporating nature into your weekly schedule can be massively helpful in healing and preventing burnout. Being outside, whether it be doing an activity or taking time to find stillness in your surroundings, is often the best way to regulate your nervous system. Being surrounded by nature allows you to rest, unplug, and regulate your body's natural homeostasis.
5. Have someone you can talk to
Often we take for granted the power of releasing emotions through verbal communication. Whether it be a coworker, a family member, a friend, or a therapist, having an outlet in which you can release the trials of the week can be a great tool for not letting anything build up over time.
6. Make exercise fun
The physical toll that comes with a customer service job varies, but standing, sitting, or constant movement are all reasons to take care of your body. Nowadays, there are countless types of exercise and finding a style and schedule that works for you and your body can be the key to unlocking the secret to defeating burnout. Physical exercise impacts not only your body, but your mind, and can seriously help in finding balance in your daily life. Whether it be weight lifting, pilates, calisthenics, yoga, running, biking, or playing a sport, using part of your free time in a way that gets you moving in the way you want to will help your overall mood throughout the day.
7. Get creative
Whether it be a four or fifteen hour shift, most service workers are treated as machines, so finding something that sparks your humanity can be a great way to counteract the hamster wheel of customer service jobs. Discovering something you enjoy outside of work that sparks your creative side can be very rewarding and lead to hobbies you never thought of before. Painting, drawing, writing, scrapbooking, pottery, graphic design, fashion, styling, jewelry making, etc, are all great ways to reconnect to what makes you human and find a new spark in life.
. . .
This is the reality of the job, and while we can't control what others do, we can control ourselves. By implementing one or all of these tips into your life, you can start to defeat emotional and physical burnout.
Working is great, but working on and for yourself is just as important. Remember to not cast yourself aside in the pursuit of your job. Easier said than done, but try implementing one or more of these tips into your daily routine, and watch how things may get a bit easier.
