Key Takeaways
- Constant stress and exhaustion can be signs of burnout.
- Burnout can make it hard to focus and might cause sleep problems.
- Taking time for self-care can help prevent and manage burnout.
It’s easy to feel exhausted, drained, and overwhelmed when we’re constantly juggling a zillion things at a time. Whether it’s a demanding job, parenting, caregiving, housekeeping, or other responsibilities, the pressure can take a major toll. Sometimes, it boils over to a point where we feel like we just can’t anymore.
Burnout isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a very real situation where chronic stress piles up and makes it hard for us to function. In fact, the World Health Organization recognizes it as an occupational hazard that can affect our health, productivity, mood, and mindset.
On the body, it can feel like a physical and emotional drain, says Danielle Roeske, PsyD, MS, vice president of residential services at Newport Healthcare.
The Burnout Quiz
If you’re feeling stretched thin, you might wonder whether you’re experiencing burnout. Take this short, free quiz to find out.
This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool or replace the support of a credentialed mental health professional, such as a therapist. If you need help, please reach out to a mental healthcare professional for support.
Who Is This Quiz For?
This quiz is for anyone who feels like they might be approaching burnout and wants to assess their stress levels. It is based on the definition and description of burnout outlined by the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.
This quiz can help you understand what burnout is, what it feels like, and the symptoms it can cause. More importantly, it can help you determine whether you need support, either from your workplace, your loved ones, or a healthcare provider.
Signs of Burnout
While the symptoms of burnout can vary from person to person, these are some of the common signs to look out for:
- Overwhelm: You may constantly feel overwhelmed by all the things you have to do. Eventually, even small things can start to feel like too much, says Dr. Roeske.
- Stress: You may constantly feel like you’re under pressure. You may find it difficult to relax even when you’re not on the clock.
- Exhaustion: You may find yourself feeling physically and emotionally drained more often than not. This feeling of exhaustion can go beyond tiredness, making you feel like you can’t move or function.
- Lower productivity: It can feel like you’re getting less done, despite putting in more time and energy.
- Lack of motivation: You may find it hard to care about anything. You may not even have the energy to do the things you enjoy.
- Withdrawal: You may withdraw from friends, family, and activities you once enjoyed.
- Negativity: You may develop a negative or cynical attitude toward yourself, your responsibilities, or the people around you.
- Dissatisfaction: You may not feel happy or satisfied when you think about your life, your work, or your responsibilities.
- Irritability: You may get easily irritated, frustrated, or angry at things that normally wouldn’t bother you.
- Cognitive difficulties: You may find it difficult to focus, make decisions, or remember things.
- Sleep issues: You may have difficulty sleeping or feel tired even after getting adequate sleep.
- Changes in appetite: You may find yourself eating more or less than usual.
- Physical symptoms: You may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or stomach upsets.
Research shows us that burnout is closely linked to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. It’s important to seek professional help if you’re having trouble coping.
The Importance of Work-Life Balance
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is key to preventing and managing burnout. It’s crucial because it helps us make time for self-care activities that are essential for our physical and emotional well-being, says Dr. Roeske.
Self-care takes many different forms. From a physical point of view, it can involve getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and getting some exercise. Emotionally speaking, it can involve spending time with loved ones. From a mental perspective, it can involve making time for your hobbies.
Self-care helps us manage stress and replenish our emotional power in order to stay attached and engaged. It also helps us to stay connected to who we are as people—independent of our jobs, roles, responsibilities, or relationships.
—
DANIELLE ROESKE, PSYD, MS
Sometimes what we need for a healthy work-life balance can feel clear and attainable, but even subtle life shifts can throw us off, requiring a continued monitoring of where we are in the continuum, Dr. Roeske explains.
If you’re struggling to find the right work-life balance for you, it may be helpful to consult a career coach or life coach.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Edú-Valsania S, Laguía A, Moriano JA. Burnout: A review of theory and measurement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 4;19(3):1780. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031780
World Health organization. Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases.
American Psychological Association. Burnout.
Koutsimani P, Montgomery A, Georganta K. The relationship between burnout, depression, and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol. 2019 Mar 13;10:284. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00284
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