Q: I think I'm on the edge of burnout. I'm crabby at work and losing interest in what I do, even though I know I actually like it. How can I get back on track?

Heidi, 32, health care worker, fending off burnout

A: Take a look at your whole life. Is this feeling pervading your personal life, too? Relationships outside of work or other activities that you usually enjoy? If so, please consider immediate attention to see if depression may be at the core. Speaking from experience, it can sneak up on you and make other actions much more difficult to take.

Now setting that aside, let's talk about your job. Burnout doesn't result from a sprint of long hours, nor from modest amounts of tasks you don't enjoy in the mix. So what's going on?

If you're putting in long hard hours, week in and week out, that can wear you down. If that's at the core, consider your options. Do you understand the organizational situation that is driving this schedule? Even if you do and you care about the organization's mission, your contribution needs to be sustainable. Consider all the steps that you can take, including talking to your boss, to build in enough respite. But — be sure your boss is someone you can trust for that open of a conversation before opening the door on it.

If you're buried in tasks you don't like, the solution may be the same — to talk to your boss — but have a solution in mind for other work you could take on that would be enriching to you.

Look at how you do your work. If others around you manage the workload without the struggle you're experiencing, maybe you need to find efficiencies or develop some new skills so that you aren't doing things the hard way. Be willing to reach out to learn from others to help make your job easier.

Think about your workplace culture. Find people you connect with and make a point of creating some bonds. This doesn't mean you need to become friends outside of work, but having work friends is one of the most important contributors to job ­satisfaction.

It's also a good time to assess whether you've got the right fit. If you don't get any traction in changing your current situation, or if you've done these things and they haven't helped, you may not be in the right organization or line of work. It's worth the effort to figure that out, rather than settling for an unsatisfying status quo.

Burnout is also more likely if you're not building in resilience through other aspects of your life. What do you do for fun? Find ways to be active and get out with people so that you're not preoccupied with work. Have some grounding and centering practices that support you from an internal strength perspective. As always, be attentive to eating reasonably and getting enough sleep.

Take a broad look at your situation and find short-term adjustments to fend off the dreaded burnout while you look for longer-term fixes.

What challenges do you face at work? Send your questions to Liz Reyer, a credentialed coach and president of Reyer Coaching & Consulting in Eagan. She can be reached at liz@deliverchange.com.