Burnout is a technical term that describes an emotional and sometimes physical response to workplace stress. Just as there can be severities of depression and anxiety, there are degrees of burnout. A person could be experiencing severe burnout or on the cusp of burnout. Burnout is not a mental illness, but its impacts can be detrimental to one’s career and family. Consulting a professional or taking a reliable test are the best ways to determine if you or someone you care about is experiencing burnout. Here are a few indicators that burnout may be occurring.
1. Emotionally and sometimes Physically Depleted
It is not surprising to find that a burnout person feels tired. However, burnout tired is a particularly severe form of exhaustion. A burnout person can get sleep but not feel rested when they wake up. Their sleep is a form of crashing or recovery, but their sleep does not rejuvenate them. Their emotional exhaustion may lead to a decreasing sense of optimism or an overall lack of motivation. They are seldom able to get over the weariness hump.
2. Criticalness and Detachment
A burnout person’s criticalness or detachment stems from their sense of exhaustion. Detachment becomes a defense mechanism, protecting what little emotional reserve they might have. This detachment carries over to relational demands as well. Rather than exert the energy it takes to connect, a burnout person finds it easier to withhold themselves emotionally. They appear not to care, but more accurately, they do not have the energy to care.
Criticalness often surfaces when new initiatives or projects present themselves. Their “Why not!” attitude has shifted to “That probably won’t work…” They may convince themselves that their perspective is pragmatic, but they actually have a critical attitude. A burnout person is likely to choose the path of least resistance, which means resisting change whenever possible.
Criticalness or detachment can be hard to assess if the person has historically demonstrated those characteristics. However, when these individuals experience burnout, their negativity will intensify.
3. Feeling Ineffective
Everyone should have a sense of accomplishment on the job. When a person experiences burnout, their sense of accomplishment dries up. They begin to question if they are making a difference. Working harder does not solve the problem. Getting more done has little impact on one’s sense of accomplishment. A burnout person can even feel like the organization is conspiring against them. Feelings of low self-worth are common.
