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Work-place Burnout is Real. Here's How You Can Cope

Sep 26, 2019
3 min read

The World Health Organization, finally, recognized work-place burnout as mental health in 2019. But, what exactly is burnout? What is it’s signs and symptoms? And, how can it be prevented and treated?

What is burnout?

Although it may be a more recent term, burnout was first coined by Herbert Freudenberger in his 1974 book, Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. Freudenberger’s original definition was, “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one's devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”

Since then, Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter have expanded on this definition. “Burnout is a psychological syndrome emerging as a prolonged response to chronic interpersonal stressors on the job. The three key dimensions of this response are an overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and detachment from the job, and a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.”

As a result, burnout causes you to feel stressed. When not addressed, this can make you less productive and have feelings like hopelessness and resentfulness. Even worse, it can lead to the following signs and symptoms.

Emotional signs of burnout.

  • Loss of motivation

  • Alienation and isolation

  • Feeling like a failure

  • Becoming more cynical

  • Feeling trapped

  • Depression

Behavioral signs of burnout.

  • Procrastination

  • Withdraw from responsibilities

  • Absenteeism

  • Irritability

  • Using drugs or alcohol to cope

Physical signs of burnout.

  • Feeling tired

  • Frequent headaches and/or muscle pain

  • Lower immunity

  • Heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes

  • Insomnia

  • Loss of appetite

Are you suffering from burnout?

If the signs listed above aren’t helpful, GMA states that there are “four questions you can ask yourself to determine if you are suffering from burnout.”

“Rate yourself on each question using a number one through four, with one being never, two sometimes, three often and four always. Then total your points from all four questions.

1. How often are you tired and lacking energy to go to work in the morning?

2. How often do you feel physically drained, like your batteries are dead?

3. How often is your thinking process sluggish or your concentration impaired?

4. How often do you feel emotionally detached from co-workers (or customers) and unable to be sensitive to their needs?

If you scored less than nine, you are not suffering from burnout.

If you scored between a 10 and 12, you are on the verge of burnout.

If you scored between a 13 and a 16, you are suffering full-on burnout.”

How to handle burnout.

If you are experiencing burnout, then you need to take action. Here are the best places to start:

  • Discuss your feelings with your supervisor to see what options are available. If you’re burned out because of your daily commute or finding childcare, see if you can have a flexible schedule or work from home occasionally. If you are unaware of expectations, then ask for more clarity. Or, ask for different responsibilities.

  • Set boundaries on what it’s time to work and when you’re not working. For example, make it a rule that you do not respond to work email when eating dinner with your family.

  • Practice mindfulness and other relaxing activities like yoga.

  • Find a release, such as exercising or doing a hobby that you enjoy.

  • Take a break from technology.

  • Get plenty of sleep.

  • Seek support from co-workers, friends, family, and mental health providers.

  • When all else fails, quit your job and find one that won’t burn you out.

27 Comments


Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson
5 days ago

What I liked most about this article was the practical approach to the subject. The information did not feel disconnected from the kind of situations students actually experience while completing coursework. I also liked the clear flow of the discussion, because it made the important points easier to notice and think about from an academic perspective.As someone working on university assignments, I can see why TEFL Assignment Help UK might attract students who want to improve their understanding of TEFL coursework and academic structure. At the same time, New Assignment Help UK appears relevant for students seeking wider academic ideas and guidance when preparing different types of written assignments.

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The section describing burnout through exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of ineffectiveness stood out to me, especially because those feelings can look quite different from the outside even when they come from the same underlying pressure. I also found the mention of setting boundaries around work email interesting, since something as small as answering messages during dinner can make the workday feel like it never really ends. It made me wonder how easily people recognise the difference between being temporarily overwhelmed and gradually becoming detached from work altogether. That question feels relevant to students too, where deadlines and responsibilities can pile up alongside things like Case Study Help in UK, making it harder to notice where ordinary pressure ends and…

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Stive joy
Stive joy
Sep 16

This is a really relatable post, especially for anyone who has experienced that feeling of being completely drained by work. I liked the practical suggestions about setting boundaries, taking proper breaks, stepping away from technology, and making time for things outside of work. Sometimes small changes can make it easier to create a healthier balance. Even when dealing with study pressure, an Assignment Help Website can be useful for managing a busy workload and freeing up some time. Overall, a thoughtful reminder that recognising stress early and asking for support really matters.

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