"Burnout"

Parker Rodgers

New York City, USA

Attribution: Nubelson Fernandes from Unsplash

Commonly mentioned on social media or casually by your best friend, the term "burnout" has been circulating throughout 2026. Burnout, by definition, is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion as a result from pent in and prolonged stress. Symptoms include severe fatigue, overwhelming exhaustion, and depletion, often feeding into increased anxiety or depression.

According to organizational psychologists Wilmar Schaufeli and Dirk Enzmann, burnout has been categorized in three parts: exhaustion, cynicism/detachment from career, and a feeling of hopeless unaccomplishment. Therefore, it's not only a result of stress overload from the surrounding world but also an individual psychological conception of oneself.

Context: 

“Burnout” was first used in the 1970s by the American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. It was used as an observational word to describe social workers and nurses at a clinic for addicts, stemming from 1960s drug-related slang.It can be specifically quoted from his 1974 academic paper titled “Staff Burn-out.” In this paper, he defines it as "to fail, wear out, or become exhausted by making excessive demands on energy, strength, or resources.” The cause of over-commitment from personal need or means of proving oneself, visually displayed by staff who work long hours and put in immense effort - often in situations where they do not appear to receive much in return.

Now, the term has expanded from its application to solely caregivers and medical-related volunteer staff to an occupational effect across a multitude of industries. Today, burnout remains a large problem that has become swept away in 21st-century work culture. Rising job insecurity, still present COVID-19 after effects, work inequities (race, gender, etc), and unsustainable workloads all contribute to the toxic work environment that is vulnerable to its effects.

Misconception: 

“Burnout is equivalent to temporary stress and exhaustion.”

Stress is over-engagement in a high-pressure environment. It's temporary, and can be reduced with breaks, rest, or removal from a situation. Stress is also associated with escalated feelings of anxiety and depression, whilst still attempting to deal with an emotion. On the other hand, burnout runs deeper than this and has a slightly different feeling. Burnout is not temporary, as it runs deeper than surface levels and momentary stress. It stems from over-demand and developed cyclism, leading to more of a lack of motivation and a drained feeling rather than feeling too much.

“Yeah, I'm burned out, but I’ll be fine after a break.” 

A typical break does not “cure” burnout. At most, it will provide a temporary relief. Burnout is a chronic depletion of necessary energy and well-being resources. In addition, a vacation does not save the workload or career that is waiting for the individual once the vacation ends.

“You're weak.” 

Burnout is often deemed as a sign of weakness, whether by surrounding people or even oneself. As people appear to be incredibly vulnerable, or maybe even lazy, other conclusions are drawn that diminish the root cause of this lack of motivation. Being burned out is not weak. It's a sign that you are pushing yourself far beyond what human beings can do. Working in a position where you are constantly forced to overwork and, as a result, feel drained, will happen to most individuals who hold the position.

So, what can you do? 

One of the most important factors is sleep, as increasing sleep and maintaining a regular schedule can improve symptoms significantly. In addition to this, it is important to minimize screen time, especially before you are about to go to sleep, to encourage a deeper sleep. Overall, this will give your nervous system more time to recover from exhausting work, both physically and mentally.

Another strategy is practicing activities that inspire mindfulness and relaxation. This can be choosing to indulge in hobbies rather than screens, doing meditation exercises or yoga stretches (which can be as short as five minutes), cooking or baking, or spending time with a loved one. These can also help calm your nerves, prompting a mental escape from the busy world.

To avoid burnout becoming overwhelmingly intense and unmanageable, it is recommended to seek help from a therapist or specialist. Specialized individuals can help identify symptoms and tackle them in the earlier stages, whilst also developing coping mechanisms to deal with overpowering feelings.