Are You Suffering From Burnout?

Burnout is described by the World Health Organisation as a condition brought on by 'chronic workplace stress'. The trouble with stress and burnout is that you can't always spot the symptoms in yourself, often because you're either too absorbed in work or don't want to be seen as 'weak'. It's not weak to recognise you might be having difficulties. So, what should you be on the lookout for?

One of the main symptoms of burnout is feeling tired. If you're feeling run-down even outside the office, it could be burnout which is causing it. Hand in hand with exhaustion, you might feel you're starting to lack motivation and notice your productivity levels seem to be dropping. The tiredness may also be the result of insomnia, which many people with burnout experience.

Another tell tale sign is your eating pattern. People tend to go to opposite ends of a spectrum, either comfort eating or severely cutting back. Either of those is harmful, so changes to eating habits should be considered a warning light.

You may also find your emotions are sitting very close to the surface. Whether it's sadness or anger, you may find yourself erupting uncontrollably. Negative emotions can impact both work and family life – we all have them, but if they feel particularly raw then you need to question the root cause.

Burnout can be incredibly serious, because it can have long-term effects on both your mental and physical health. If these main symptoms sound familiar, speak to your manager and then seek help. You can overcome burnout with support, so don't be afraid to ask for it.