From Burnout To Balance: The Next Evolution Of Wellbeing At Work

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The fast-paced Malaysian workplace requires long hours and constant connectivity, leading to chronic stress and burnout while increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

Resident Medical Officer at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City’s Wellness Centre Dr Wee Hui Yin observes that patients rarely mention "burnout”, but they frequently show signs of stress during their medical consultations and history evaluation sessions.

"Many don't call it burnout, but it appears as fatigue, irritability, sleep issues and lower tolerance at work and home,” she said in a statement today.

Dr Wee said Malaysia’s burnout rate is alarmingly high, with 67 percent of workers reporting burnout in 2024, a significant jump from 58 percent in 2022, and noted that Millennials and Gen Z are the most vocal.

However, she noted that mid-life adults may be especially vulnerable as the ‘sandwich generation’,  balancing careers with caring for both children and ageing parents, often internalising stress instead of addressing it, which raises their long-term health risks.

Given these changes, Dr Wee said companies now see that supporting employee’s wellbeing requires more than just emotional support.

Workplace wellness now requires organisations to adopt a more holistic system that combines physical health assessments with lifestyle guidance and emotional wellness support.

She said human body develops two different health problems when stress continues to exist, first is the physiological problems whereby prolonged exposure to stress hormones such as cortisol can lead to increased blood sugar levels, higher bad cholesterol, greater visceral fat accumulation and elevated blood pressure.

The patients can also experience psychological distress where they develop depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and dangerous drinking habits which can ultimately create additional health threats for patients.

“These changes significantly increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Stress also causes inflammation and stiffening of the arteries, which helps explain why some people develop heart problems even without obvious risk factors,” Dr Wee added.

Dr Wee explained that company health screening programmes will not achieve meaningful results if they focus only on annual tests, without appropriate post-screening medical follow-up and lifestyle intervention.

“Some patients come every year, but their results remain the same. Often, it is not lack of awareness, but a lack of time, guidance and support, accompanied by long working hours, poor routines and the feeling of not knowing where to start. That means no real changes are made,” she said.

Dr Wee said preventive health routine requires regular monitoring of blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, kidney function, stress levels and sleep quality.

These results should guide lifestyle adjustments and follow-up care, rather than exist as standalone diagnostic checks.

Dr Wee advocates a holistic approach that combines medical care with lifestyle, diet and mental health, using lifestyle medicine to encourage healthy eating, stress management and better sleep as chronic diseases continue to rise in Malaysia.

She pointed to the world’s “Blue Zones” places like Okinawa (Japan), Loma Linda (California, USA) and Sardinia (Italy) where people consistently live longer, healthier lives with fewer chronic diseases.

“These communities share a simple formula we call the ‘Power of 9’. They move naturally every day, eat mostly plant-based meals, manage stress well and maintain strong social bonds. It is not about rigid routines or unrealistic health goals.

“It is about helping people make small, practical changes they can actually stick to. People can achieve this by walking more at work and preparing nutritious home meals and by dedicating more time to their family relationships,” she said.

For individuals who feel “too busy” to prioritise their health, Dr Wee advised simple steps, such as to start small and start now, where regaining balance does not require a complete lifestyle overhaul.

She recommends taking short breaks every few hours to walk or stretch, which can boost focus and relieve stress, and says that movement need not be formal exercise, such as standing up often, using stairs, parking farther away or taking brief walks.

For acute stress, Dr Wee recommends the square breathing technique, besides having quality sleep is essential where one should aim for seven to nine hours nightly, as late-night screen time can disrupt recovery.

She also noted that workplace culture plays a key role, as expectations of long hours and constant connectivity can negatively affect employees’ physical and mental health, leading to reduced work quality.

“Being at work longer doesn’t mean being more effective,” she said, while explaining that offering practical support like childcare, clear work boundaries, self-care and healthy leadership helps reduce stress and burnout, especially for mid-career caregivers.

-- BERNAMA