Burnout affects approximately 1.8% of the population of the UK (Labour Force Survey, 2018/19) and it is estimated that 15.4 million working days are lost every year due to burnout (2017/18 figures). In this age of 24/7 communications, heightened competition, the perceived need to achieve and perform, and downtime becoming more and more of a luxury for some, it’s no wonder that burnout is rapidly becoming the illness of the modern age. With another lockdown in England and many of us working from home, the feeling of the need to always be on call, to not leave the computer screen just in case the boss or your colleagues check that you are in fact working may be adding to this. Many of us may in fact be working harder than ever before, and even though we may be in our own environment at home, we still need to be mindful of the need to have a break from work and to maintain a good work life balance.
Trouble sleeping, seemingly no time to do anything, constantly chasing your tail, forgetting things, eating all the wrong things and at the wrong times, neglecting family and friends, never switching off, always at work or at least ‘on call’, being unusually bad tempered, making mistakes, waking up early and staying up late, feeling ill – headaches, stomach pains. These are all signs that you might be at risk of burning out – a state when at its most severe, you can become so stressed and anxious that you can become incapable of doing anything.
Burnout isn’t just bad for your mental and physical health, it can have all sorts of negative knock-on effects, such as causing relationships to sour, bad performance at work, isolation and depression due to stress. In extreme cases, it can result in the loss of a job, friends and of self-confidence.
It’s important to nip it in the bud.
By allowing the brain and the body time to recover and re-charge, you will find that you are more alert, can think more clearly and are able to function more efficiently and effectively both at work and outside of work and that you will be far more use to everyone. Your boss, your work colleagues, your family and friends, your body – and most of all, your mind – will all thank you.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, often related to work. According to the Labour Force Survey (2018/19), around 1.8% of the UK population is affected, with an estimated 15.4 million working days lost annually due to burnout.
Common signs include trouble sleeping, constant fatigue, irritability, memory problems, physical symptoms like headaches or stomach pain, poor eating habits, social withdrawal, and a sense of being constantly “on call” or unable to switch off.
Yes, working from home can make it harder to separate work and personal life. The pressure to always be available and productive can lead to longer hours and greater stress, increasing the risk of burnout.
You can prevent burnout by setting a daily routine, getting enough sleep, eating regular meals, taking breaks, exercising, limiting alcohol, switching off work devices after hours, and ensuring you use your holiday allowance for real rest.
If left unaddressed, burnout can lead to serious mental and physical health problems, strained relationships, reduced job performance, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, and loss of confidence.
