Burnout is becoming increasingly common in today’s fast-paced work environments. The demands of modern life have significantly impacted our work-life balance and stressors, leading to increasing levels of burnout.
According to the Burnout Report 2025 1 in 5 workers need time off work due to mental health struggles caused by stress. (1)
So what is ‘burnout’
Burnout is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It doesn’t happen overnight; it is chronically unmanaged stress, and it can happen when you experience prolonged stress and feel under constant pressure.
Whilst the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises burnout, it is not classed as a medical or mental health condition, but is classed as a syndrome, meaning a collection of symptoms or signs associated with a specific health related condition.
Although we know burnout is linked to stress, they are not the same. Stress is usually temporary and while it can affect your energy, emotions, and sleep, you can still carry on with the activities causing it.
Burnout, on the other hand, leaves you feeling completely detached and unmotivated, making it difficult to function, leaving you felling hopeless that the situation you find yourself in will ever change.
Burnout is often associated with the workplace, but it can also arise from other life pressures and overwhelming demands, such as caregiving, parenting, or managing a chronic illness or condition.
Understanding what the symptoms of Burnout are can help us to recognise whether we or those that we work with are suffering with it.
Symptoms of burnout
B – Becoming disconnected. You don’t want to be around others. You may Feel isolated and lonely. You could have outbursts at home but not at work.
U – Unexplained exhaustion. Small things start to bother you. You may become irritated with your partner or family member at the smallest things they do like leaving the lid of the toothpaste off or not putting something away.
R – Reduced creativity. You can’t think of new ideas, only problems. You are present at work but you easily lose focus and may not feel as productive as you once were.
N – Neglecting yourself. You ignore your own self-care. You may comfort eat and have become less active.
O – Overwhelmed. You feel overloaded and unable to cope. You revisit and go over things and can’t make up your mind. You have a cynical/negative outlook.
U – Uninterested. You have an inability to gain pleasure from everyday things you felt you once enjoyed.
T – Tired and physically exhausted. You have no get up and go and you don’t want to spend time with your loved ones. Your sleep is poor and you have a lack of focus.
If you recognise several of these signs, it may be time to take a step back and evaluate your workload and stress levels. In the next post, we’ll discuss how to incorporate rest into your routine using the 42% rule.
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