I recently came across a Reddit post that hit close to home. The author, a data analyst, was feeling burnt out in their role and wondered if their experience was normal. They didn’t have the traditional entry-level requirements for the job, but they worked hard to learn quickly and excel in their position. Despite their growth in technical skills, they’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
The author’s responsibilities include fulfilling data requests for multiple partners, handling ad hoc requests and analysis, and dealing with memory constraints that slow down their work. They’re also expected to rewrite code and learn a new database on top of their regular tasks. To make matters worse, their team is data illiterate, except for their manager, which means they spend a lot of time explaining things to their colleagues.
I can understand why they’re feeling overworked and unsupported. It’s a lot of pressure to handle such a heavy workload with minimal guidance and resources. But is this normal in data analysis roles?
In many cases, data analysts are expected to wear multiple hats and take on a wide range of responsibilities. They may not have the luxury of specializing in one area, and their work can be highly demanding. However, that doesn’t mean they should have to sacrifice their well-being in the process.
If you’re a data analyst feeling burnt out, know that you’re not alone. It’s essential to prioritize your mental and physical health, even if it means setting boundaries or seeking support from colleagues or a therapist. Remember, you don’t have to handle everything on your own.
What do you think? Have you experienced burnout in your data analysis role? How did you cope with it?