Continuous work, a race with technology, and expectations that cannot be contained. This is the digital era. Here, burnout quietly creeps in, placing the employee in constant anxiety that also affects productivity.

In her interview with Annahar, the Dean of the Adnan Kassar School of Business at the Lebanese American University, Dr. Dima Jamali, explains that in today’s digital work environment artificial intelligence facilitates repetitive technical tasks, but at the same time it raises the level of expectations and narrows the employee’s margin of comfort, placing them under an unspoken pressure that is the real source of stress, not the technology itself.

While the concept of “work smart not hard” is widely promoted, Jamali comments that what is often happening now is that we are working more and calling it smartness. Digital tools have made it possible to work at any time and from anywhere, and they have raised the ceiling of expectations, whereas working smart requires conscious selectivity, a skill that schools and companies have not yet taught us.

To apply this concept, you should not waste time on tasks that can be automated, meaning tasks that digital tools can do instead of you. Instead, focus your time and energy on what reveals your true value and requires your human presence and judgment. This latter aspect is a strength of the Baby Boomer generation in these environments, something no artificial intelligence can replicate, because it comes from decades of experience, judgment based on practice, and a real network of relationships. Their adaptation lies in repositioning themselves by learning to use new tools to enhance their expertise, as their value lies in depth rather than speed.

Occupational burnout. (Freepik)

The digital environment is a gateway to occupational burnout

The pressure of keeping up with digital tools at work leads to psychological burnout, according to Jamali. What makes it particularly dangerous is that it often goes unspoken, due to fear of appearing weak or behind. However, the accumulation of silent exhaustion turns into real burnout, which is the most widespread and least diagnosed condition in today’s workplaces.

In addition, job insecurity in the age of artificial intelligence increases employees’ levels of anxiety, Jamali confirms. The uncertainty surrounding the professional future, even if it is a distant threat, generates chronic anxiety that drains cognitive and emotional energy. This anxiety is often managed by working more, leaving employees trapped between proving their effectiveness and experiencing burnout.

Jamali believes that the greater burden of responsibility for burnout lies with the work system itself. We ask individuals to take care of themselves in environments that are originally designed to exhaust them.

The corporate principle productivity before rest

In most cases, companies prioritize productivity over employee well-being, even if they are not fully aware of it, according to Jamali. Most of them measure performance through productivity, achievement, and numbers, while neglecting long term psychological sustainability and health. Therefore, companies must include employee well being in their actual performance indicators. A burned out person cannot create, lead, or innovate. True and sustainable competitiveness is built on renewable energy, not exhaustion. Psychological comfort in today’s workplace improves performance quality and reduces errors.

Maintaining a healthy balance between work and life in an always on world is possible, but it requires will and a conscious decision that starts with policies and organizational culture, according to Jamali. Balance no longer means equal division of time, but rather having clear and respected boundaries in a nonstop world, which requires both personal courage and institutional support.

Since healthy boundaries in the context of technology are not a luxury but a requirement for sustainable performance, Jamali recommends the following:

• Setting specific times when email or work applications are not opened and strictly respecting them.
• Keeping daily activities completely free of screens and technology, such as social or sports activities.
• Distinguishing between immediate response and necessary response, as not every message deserves an instant reply.