What is burnout? Causes and symptoms are presented and explained by psychologists in the following lines.

Everyone has experienced burnout at some point. Working, helping others, and taking care of our families are just a few of the daily obligations that fill our lives with stress. We occasionally become so busy that we neglect to pause and rest.

Burnout is a type of exhaustion brought on by an ongoing sense of overload. It occurs when we endure excessive mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion for an extended time. Burnout usually happens to those who work overtime or under too much pressure, but it’s not a general rule. It can also happen to those who are unemployed. If left untreated, it can easily affect daily lives.

Although the condition isn’t medically diagnosed, it affects thousands of people annually. Since it seems to be a lot like depression, people tend to confuse the two of them. That’s why it’s crucial to ask for a professional opinion based on your symptoms. These are just a few causes of this mental condition:

Few supportive or meaningful relationships

Who do you surround yourself with? This is one of the first questions you should ask yourself. Because the people who are around you are the main source of your stress or your happiness. When it comes to work, often we can’t really choose our co-workers or clients depending on the job we have. But you can improve the dynamic you have between you.

Since burnout can spread, you need to improve team spirit to increase individual engagement. You might want to think about changing jobs if you’ve tried everything and people still can’t get better or don’t want better relationships.

Besides work, you must also pay attention to the people who are your friends. Sometimes people change, and we may evolve in different directions, and that’s absolutely fine. Consider why you remain friends with them and how their presence affects you. Having meaningful relationships with people who are supportive and nice towards you can bring so much joy and benefits to your mental health.

Working too much

One of the worst causes of burnout is a workload that doesn’t match your ability to do it. Working too much, doing overtime almost every day of the week, and never finding time to rest can lead to chronic fatigue.

Evaluate your performance in the following key domains to manage the stress of your workload: workload planning, prioritization, assigning tasks, saying no, and letting go of striving for perfection.

If you haven’t had a chance to work on your time management skills yet, why not give it a try? You might be surprised at how much better you feel! Many people find that a proactive effort to reduce their workload can greatly reduce feelings of burnout and provide space for rest, especially those who tend to please others. Remember, it’s OK to say no once in a while or when you don’t feel like doing that certain thing. And work-life balance is important for our mental health.

Lack of control

Lack of resources or difficulty participating in work-related decisions can make people feel powerless, and this can easily add up and lead to either frustration or burnout. Or both. Additionally, employees might feel that their managers don’t believe in their abilities or observe that their efforts aren’t being acknowledged.

If job priorities change often, it can lead to a lack of control, limiting opportunities for advancement or preventing them from working on projects they want to do.

Earning too little

Unfortunately, inflation hit everyone in the face, and we often find ourselves without or with very little by the end of the month. As this occurs, frustration increases; people, especially families with kids, tend to worry more. But this can very easily lead to burnout.

Perhaps you aren’t motivated to do more because your salary doesn’t justify the time and effort you put in. Start by defining what a reward means to you. Maybe it’s a promotion, or you’re satisfied with your salary, and encouraging remarks from superiors or colleagues are all you need at this moment. Acknowledge your needs, then request it.

How do these causes reflect in our lives and what are the major symptoms of burnout? See below. 

Feeling emotionally and physically drained

Do you remember those times in which you were able to have fun, enjoy your company as well as others, have time for your hobbies, and so on? Now you’re only tired or too stressed to do these things.

It’s possible that you’re emotionally exhausted and unable to handle the personal and professional issues that surround you. This may manifest as stomach (or bowel) issues and physical pain; even waking up can be too hard.

Mood swings

As was already mentioned, burnout may affect your ability to control your emotions outside of the workplace. Minor problems can seem like big ones, and you might find yourself losing your temper with loved ones over little things. This increased irritability is frequently caused by emotional exhaustion and ongoing stress.

Reduced performance (and lack of motivation for daily tasks)

This can happen at work or home (when looking after family members) when you don’t have enough energy to complete your daily tasks. Burnout makes it difficult to focus, manage responsibilities, and be creative.

Burnout can make even simple daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, or running errands seem difficult. If you’re struggling to complete simple tasks that used to come easily, it could be a sign that burnout is affecting your overall well-being, not just your professional life.

Overcoming burnout without help can be challenging, but if you don’t have enough finances to go to a therapist, you can also read books about self-help. Today’s recommendation that comes from all the psychologists we’ve talked to is Burnout Recovery: 15 techniques to overcome chronic stress, regain control, restore your energy, and restore your focus. Why this book? It provides you with a thorough understanding of burnout and related conditions, as well as warning signs and, most importantly, how to deal with them. Burnout does not have to dominate and influence every aspect of your life; however, to overcome it, you must first start with yourself.

Physical symptoms seem to never go away

Burnout can cause chronic stress, which can manifest physically. You may experience frequent headaches, digestive issues, muscle tension, or a weakened immune system. If you’re constantly feeling sick despite rest medical checks and taking vitamin supplements, burnout could be the root cause.

Avoiding social interactions

If you’re feeling burned out, you may start to avoid social interactions—not just work-related ones, but also those with people who are close to you (like family or friends). The idea of making plans can be exhausting, and you may begin to isolate yourself, preferring solitude to connection. Plus, being alone, you will avoid answering questions like “Are you OK?” “Are you feeling alright? You seem a bit off lately!” and so on.

Have you ever experienced burnout? Were you aware of these causes and symptoms, or did you think you were just going through a rough patch in your life and things would get back to normal eventually? Tell us your story in the comments.

Are you spending too much time on social media? Then you might want to read about the 5 Signs Social Media is Harming Your Mental Health.