The World Health Organisation defines burnout as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. WHO also emphasizes that in its definition, burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be used to describe experiences in other areas of life. The World Economic Forum estimates that the syndrome is costing the global economy US$322 billion annually. 

There is no one thing that causes burnout. Feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated, feeling unable to keep up with demands and expectations, fear and insecurity and even feeling underwhelmed and bored can all contribute to burnout. If you are dealing with chronic stress, the demands being placed on you can exceed the resources you have available to deal with the stressors.

Burnout can wreak havoc on your health, happiness, relationships and job performance. So, what are the signs that you may be suffering from burnout?

If you are feeling tired all the time, this is a clear sign of burnout. Exhaustion can be emotional, mental or physical. 

You no longer have that internal motivation for work, and you don’t feel enthusiastic about anything anymore. It may be harder to get going every day and drag yourself into work

Burnout tends to happen over an extended period of time, so try comparing your performance now to your performance in previous years. This may reveal if you are in a temporary slump or experiencing more chronic burnout.

People often engage in unhealthy coping strategies such as drinking too much, smoking, or not getting enough sleep. Relying on sleeping pills to sleep, drinking more alcohol to de-stress or even drinking more coffee to give you the energy to get going can all be indicators that someone is suffering from burnout.

Serious chronic stress can create health problems such as digestive issues, depression, heart disease, obesity or flare ups in inflammatory conditions

You may cry easily and feel out of control.

When we’re stressed, our attention narrows to focus on the negative element that we see as a threat. In the short term this helps us deal with a problem, but our brains and bodies are designed to deal with this in short bursts. This narrow focus continues for a long time when stresses and we have difficulty in paying attention to other things. You may find that you are more forgetful and have a harder time remembering things and it can negatively affect your ability to solves problems and make decisions.

You are irritable and critical of co-workers, having more conflicts and arguments, or you withdraw, talking less to family, friends or colleagues.

Make sure you are eating a balanced diet, and try to fit some exercise into your day. Try taking a 30 minute walk in your lunch break. Do your best to get a full 8 hours sleep, try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Start treating your body right.

If you have strong relationships with family and friends, you’ll find that good feeling will carry over into your work life. Having strong personal relationships makes us more content.

Often when people are feeling stressed and burnt out they worry that something important will slip through the cracks. Clear your head, put together a to-do list and then prioritise. Having a reminder system in place means that you remove this source of stress.

Take time each day (15 minutes or more) and simply disconnect from the world. Use this time to rejuvenate yourself: read, meditate write in a journal. Do whatever you can to not worry about the things that are causing you stress.

If you aren’t sure what your job responsibilities are or what expectations come with that, then you won’t be able to do your job well. 

If you are struggling with feelings of inadequacy or confusion, seek help. Talk to a trusted family member or friend – not your coworkers. Speak to a counselor. Workplace burnout is a common problem, and they can guide you through the process of recovery.

Workplace burnout develops over time. If you are aware of the potential warning signs then you’ll be able to catch burnout early on. By taking care of yourself, understanding your work style and motivations you may be able to prevent burnout altogether