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Are You Burnt Out or Just Tired?

There’s tired. And then there’s burnt out.

Everyone gets tired sometimes. Or stressed or frustrated or even exhausted. But generally, getting some rest or taking a break from your daily grind will relieve tiredness. Burnout, on the other hand, happens when those feelings simply won’t go away after an extended period of time, and feel insurmountable.

What Burnout Feels Like

You may not know you have burnout, even though you’re well aware that you feel stressed or tired. It occurs after an extended period of such symptoms, at which point all your coping resources – stress hormones, physical and mental vitality, positive emotions and resilience – have been used up.

Burnout is directed by stress. It causes your brain to fixate on catastrophic thoughts, which turn to constant pessimism and vulnerability, just like when you’re physically ill. In fact, it may even contribute to harmful physical symptoms, such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, muscle pain, headaches, gastrointestinal issues or respiratory problems.
If you’re burned out, you may experience insomnia or depressive symptoms. Burnout sufferers also may turn to the use of psychotropic or antidepressant medications or in worst cases, be hospitalized for mental or psychological ill-health issues. And at work? It may manifest as job dissatisfaction, absenteeism or presenteeism, or even disability.

Causes of Burnout

You may become burned out if:

Your salary is too low, your work hours are too long, and/or there’s not enough opportunity for advancement in your job.
Your workload is overwhelming.
You have poor work relationships. A leading example is a boss who’s overly demanding or critical.
Your values don’t align with those of your company. The cultural, mission, vision and value fit just isn’t there. It may be right for others, but not for you.
You lack work/life balance. Maybe you don’t have – or take – enough time off. If you’re working during hours when you should be relaxing and enjoying life, burnout could creep in.
You’re not recognized for your work. This leaves you feeling unnoticed and underappreciated – feelings which no one ever has said they could easily live with.

Nip It in the Bud

Avoid these ghastly scenarios by making whatever changes are necessary to bring your work and your lifestyle back into sync, so you can smile, sleep, and enjoy it all once again.

Talk to your boss. Brainstorm options for making things better.
Take some time off. Temporarily remove yourself from the situation. The length of time you take depends on your individual situation. It may be a couple of days, a week, or a more extended leave to focus on your mental health.
Think about making a change. If you feel like your current company unfortunately fosters a culture of burnout, or your values simply don’t align, it may be time to make a change as you take your career to the next level.