Feeling mentally exhausted, unmotivated, or just running on fumes? You might be dealing with burnout, and you’re not alone. A Microsoft survey found that over 50% of employees and managers worldwide feel burned out. While stress is unavoidable, when it becomes chronic, it takes a serious toll on your physical and mental health.
What Is Burnout?
Burnout is more than just stress—it’s complete emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. According to mental health experts, it typically falls into three categories:
- Overload burnout – When you push yourself too hard and sacrifice health and personal life for success.
- Under-challenged burnout – Feeling bored, unfulfilled, or disconnected from your work or passions.
- Neglect burnout – A sense of helplessness, frustration, and lack of solutions to stressful situations.
Signs You’re Burning Out
Burnout manifests in different ways, but key physical symptoms include headaches, sleep issues, digestive problems, and chronic fatigue. Mentally, it can show up as anxiety, irritability, imposter syndrome, or feeling emotionally drained.
How to Recover and Prevent Burnout
- Recognize the signs early – Ask yourself: Am I exhausted more often than not? Has someone mentioned I seem withdrawn?
- Prioritize daily routines – Good sleep, exercise, and consistent meals create a baseline for balance.
- Set boundaries – Say no to over-commitment and have open conversations about workload.
- Find joy in hobbies – Engaging in gardening, painting, hiking, or other fulfilling activities helps recharge your mind.
- Seek support – Whether it’s a therapist, friend, or mentor, talking things out can help you reset.
Burnout doesn’t just disappear—taking action is key to feeling like yourself again.