Have you noticed any of these common signs of burnout?

More than 90% of British adults have experienced high levels of pressure or stress in the last year. Not only is that a staggering amount, but – if they're not addressed fast – these feelings can soon lead to a problem known as workplace burnout. In the following guide, we'll take a look at top burnout symptoms, how to identify them, and the key differences between workplace burnout and stress. 

What is burnout?

Burnout is the result of prolonged workplace stress that has not been managed. While it's not technically classified as a medical condition, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognises it as an “occupational phenomenon.” That means it directly relates to working or the workplace. 

While workplace burnout can be caused by stress at work, it's not the same as stress – this is important to understand before we go any further. When you're experiencing this occupational phenomenon, you may have an array of unexpected side effects that impair your ability to function.

Burnout vs stress: key differences

While burnout and stress are related, it's important to realise that these are two different things. If you're not sure which one is affecting you, it's worth looking at the key differences: 

  • Time period. Stress tends to only affect people for short bouts or periods. Burnout, on the other hand, can go on much longer. As we've covered, there are many burnout symptoms that you may start to experience if you're facing this issue. 
  • Emotional impact. While stress has an emotional impact on a person, often leading to feelings of anxiety, burnout may hit you harder. Often enough, people will become detached and down when they're burnt out. 
  • Motivation levels. With stress, you don't always lose your sense of motivation. You may feel under pressure but can often push through and keep working. However, when you're experiencing many or a combination of burnout symptoms, you may completely lose any motivation to do your job. 

What does burnout feel like?

Burnout symptoms usually develop gradually and can vary from person to person. Here's a breakdown of some emotional, physical, and cognitive changes that you might experience – or people might notice about you – when you're burnt out:

Emotional signs of burnout

  • Overwhelm. Are you feeling more drained than usual? One of the main signs of burnout at work is feeling overwhelmed. You might also feel anxious in your day-to-day life, meaning that you struggle to do the things you usually would. 
  • Irritation. Are you feeling more irritated than usual? Burnout can make it harder for you to deal with everyday challenges. Whether you're getting upset with your boss, finding your co-workers too much, or feeling frustrated with work tasks, burnout can intensify these feelings and leave you struggling to cope. 
  • Low sense of accomplishment. When you've done a good job, you usually feel a sense of accomplishment. One of the main burnout symptoms is failing to feel anything at this point, or feeling inadequate or like a failure.
  • Negative outlook. While you may usually be a sunny-side-up person, burnout can change your perspective. When you're experiencing this problem, it can easily skew the way you see things. You might find yourself viewing things in a negative light.
  • Low motivation levels. You might feel less productive than usual. One of the major burnout symptoms is a lack of motivation. For example, you might feel that your work is unimportant or find it hard to do what you really need to. 
  • Cynicism. Burnout can make you feel cynical, especially when it comes to your job. You might find yourself being more critical of others or having an overall negative outlook of your workplace. This, in turn, can also impact how productive you are at work. 

Physical symptoms of burnout

  • Low energy. No matter how much sleep you get, you're struggling to keep your eyes open. When you're burned out, you may experience fatigue. One of the main burnout symptoms is feeling tired all of the time, regardless of the lifestyle changes you make to combat this. 
  • Lack of appetite. In times of stress, your appetite is always the first thing to go. If you're feeling less hungry than usual, it may be because you're overworked and burned out. 
  • Heart palpitations. Some of the symptoms of burnout can overlap with anxiety. One such sign is heart palpitations. You might also have other symptoms, such as aches and pains, shortness of breath, and even headaches. These burnout symptoms are all signs that something's not quite right and that you may need to address a deeper issue here. 
  • Stomach problems. When you're feeling burned out, it can affect your digestive system. You may experience symptoms that are similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Of course, when you notice this problem, you should see your doctor. 
  • Restlessness. Finding it hard to sit still? When people are trying to deal with burnout, they may become more fidgety and generally restless. If you're struggling to stay in one position to do your work, you may want to know why that is.  

Cognitive signs of burnout

  • Memory problems. Are you forgetting something? Memory problems can become more prevalent when you're experiencing workplace burnout. You might miss meetings, completely forget about deadlines, and find it hard to keep up with the pace of your work. 
  • Poor decision-making. Every single day at work, you make a load of tiny decisions. So, when you're finding that hard to do that, it's only logical that your work will suffer. Poor decision-making is often a sign of work burnout, too. 
  • Struggling to concentrate. Can you keep your eyes on the prize? One of the biggest burnout symptoms is difficulty concentrating on work. This lack of focus may make it harder for you to keep working, leading to further problems down the line. 
  • Racing thoughts. Are you thinking 20 things at once? If so, you may be in the midst of workplace burnout. Many people find that they cannot think straight when they're overworked and overwhelmed. 
  • Ruminating. When people are stressed, they be prone to rumination. This means paying too much attention to a negative thought – turning it over again and again in your head. This can lead to anxious feelings and even paranoia as well as depression. 

Recognise burnout symptoms – and take action 

Burnout is a serious problem that can affect anyone at work. When you notice the signs of burnout, it's important to take action, fast. You can speak to your boss about the issue or consider whether this is the right job for you at all. If in doubt, turn to a doctor or medical professional for support. 

To help you recover from burnout on the job, we've outlined more strategies on how to deal with burnout in this blog.

Thinking of changing jobs to avoid burnout? Send your CV for a free review by one of TopCV's experts and gain the competitive edge you need to land a new role faster!

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