Burnout is an increasingly common issue facing employees and students today. It refers to a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. While burnout was once thought of as impacting primarily high-stress jobs like healthcare workers, educators, and business professionals, its reach has expanded. Today, people in nearly every industry and at every level of education report experiencing burnout.
According to a 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association, 79% of employees report work-related stress impacting them in the last month. A staggering 44% report physical fatigue, 32% report emotional exhaustion, and 26% report decreased motivation or interest in their work. These statistics illustrate how widespread the burnout problem has become.
Burnout significantly impacts both well-being and productivity. People experiencing burnout often struggle with chronic fatigue, difficulty focusing, lack of motivation, physical symptoms, emotional outbursts, cynicism and social withdrawal. At work, this results in missed deadlines, poor performance, job dissatisfaction and high turnover. For students, it leads to poor academic outcomes and lack of interest in learning.
While the causes of burnout are complex, prolonged stress is a leading contributor. Other factors like lack of control over work or school demands, lack of social support, work-life imbalance and high workload can also increase the risk of burnout. The good news is there are steps that can be taken to prevent and address burnout.
Here are HFR’s 10 signs you may be experiencing burnout:
- Lack of Motivation: One of the most common signs of burnout is a lack of motivation. If you find yourself struggling to get out of bed in the morning or feeling unmotivated to complete tasks at work, it may be a sign that you are experiencing burnout. This is because burnout can affect your sense of purpose and leave you feeling disillusioned with your work.
Burnout and a lack of motivation are common issues that can impact both students in school and employees in the workplace. Students may find it challenging to focus on schoolwork, leading to poor academic performance and decreased interest in learning. Meanwhile, employees may struggle to find enthusiasm for their work, leading to decreased productivity and job satisfaction. Both situations can be detrimental to overall well-being and may require interventions such as self-care practices or seeking support from a counselor or supervisor.
- Decreased Productivity: If you find that you are struggling to complete tasks that you were once able to do easily, or if you are making more mistakes than usual, it may be a sign that you are burned out. This is because burnout can affect your ability to focus and concentrate, making it difficult to get things done efficiently.
When an individual is experiencing burnout, they may struggle to complete tasks or projects efficiently, leading to decreased productivity. In school, burnout can lead to missed deadlines, incomplete assignments, and poor grades. In the workplace, burnout can lead to missed deadlines, incomplete projects, and decreased job performance. This can result in a negative cycle where the individual becomes more overwhelmed, leading to further burnout and decreased productivity. Addressing burnout and finding ways to manage stress can be crucial in preventing decreased productivity and maintaining overall well-being.
- Chronic Fatigue: Chronic fatigue is another common symptom of burnout. If you find that you are constantly tired, even after a full night’s sleep, it may be a sign that you are experiencing burnout. This is because burnout can drain your energy reserves, leaving you feeling exhausted and unable to perform at your best.
When someone experiences burnout, they may feel physically, emotionally, and mentally drained, which can contribute to chronic fatigue. This can make it difficult to focus on daily activities, causing a decrease in productivity and motivation. Chronic fatigue can also lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, and digestive issues. It is essential to address burnout and take steps to manage stress to prevent chronic fatigue and its negative impact on overall health and well-being.
- Emotional Exhaustion: If you find that you are easily overwhelmed by your emotions or that you are more irritable than usual, it may be a sign that you are burned out. This is because burnout can deplete your emotional reserves, leaving you feeling drained and emotionally exhausted.
Burnout can also contribute to emotional exhaustion, a state of feeling emotionally drained and unable to cope with day-to-day stressors. When someone experiences burnout, they may feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and powerless, leading to emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion can manifest in a range of symptoms, including irritability, difficulty concentrating, and a feeling of detachment from others.
This can make it challenging to maintain healthy relationships and cope with stressors, leading to a negative impact on overall mental health. Addressing burnout and taking steps to manage stress can be crucial in preventing emotional exhaustion and promoting emotional well-being.
- Physical Symptoms: Burnout can also manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and muscle tension. If you find that you are experiencing these symptoms frequently, it may be a sign that you are experiencing burnout. This is because burnout can affect your physical health, leaving you feeling tense and achy.
- Lack of Enjoyment: Burnout can also lead to a lack of enjoyment in activities that you once found pleasurable. If you find that you are no longer enjoying hobbies or activities that you used to love, it may be a sign that you are burned out. This is because burnout can affect your ability to experience pleasure and enjoyment.
This can lead to a lack of motivation and disengagement, making it challenging to complete tasks or projects. In school, this can lead to decreased academic performance and a lack of interest in learning. In the workplace, this can lead to decreased job satisfaction, decreased productivity, and increased turnover rates.
- Cynicism: If you find that you are becoming more cynical or negative in your thinking, it may be a sign that you are experiencing burnout. This is because burnout can affect your outlook on life and leave you feeling pessimistic.
In a study, cynicism was a significant partial mediator of the emotional exhaustion and professional inefficacy relations with three outcome variables, linking to increased task performance, contextual performance, and prosocial behavior. This is one of the few studies that uses the burnout process model to examine the links between burnout and performance and prosocial behavior.
- Difficulty Concentrating: If you find that you are easily distracted or that you are having trouble focusing on tasks, it may be a sign that you are experiencing burnout. This is because burnout can affect your cognitive abilities, making it difficult to stay focused and engaged.
This can manifest a range of symptoms, including forgetfulness, distractibility, and a reduced ability to problem-solve. In school, this can lead to poor academic performance and difficulty retaining information. In the workplace, this can lead to missed deadlines and decreased job performance. Addressing burnout and finding ways to manage stress can help improve concentration and focus, leading to improved academic or job performance and overall well-being.
- Withdrawal: Burnout can also lead to withdrawal from social situations. If you find that you are avoiding social activities or withdrawing from friends and family, it may be a sign that you are burned out.
This is because burnout can affect your desire for social interaction, leaving you feeling isolated and disconnected. When an individual is experiencing burnout, they may feel emotionally and physically drained, leading to a lack of motivation to interact with others. This can manifest in a range of symptoms, including withdrawing from social events, avoiding coworkers or classmates, and a feeling of disconnection from friends and family. This can have a significant impact on mental health, leading to increased feelings of depression and anxiety.
- Increased Substance Use: Finally, burnout can lead to increased substance use. If you find that you are using alcohol, drugs, or other substances more frequently than usual, it may be a sign that you are experiencing burnout.
This is because burnout can lead to a sense of hopelessness and a desire to escape from your problems. When an individual is experiencing burnout, they may feel emotionally and mentally drained, leading to a lack of motivation to cope with stress in a healthy way. Substance use can provide a temporary escape from feelings of stress and anxiety, leading to a negative cycle where substance use further contributes to burnout. This can have a significant impact on physical and mental health, leading to addiction and other health problems.
