What Is Burnout? 4 Common Signs You're Experiencing Burnout At Workplace

Burnout is a debilitating condition characterised by emotional, mental and physical depletion, resulting from chronic stress, excessive workload and a lack of balance in personal and professional life. It is often associated with the workplace where individuals may feel overwhelmed by their workload, lack control over their tasks, and experience poor work-life balance.

As a result, burnout has become a common phenomenon in modern workplaces, affecting individuals across various professions and industries. If left unaddressed, burnout can have severe consequences on an individual's overall well-being, relationships and productivity. Here, we've compiled some common signs that may help to identify burnout in the workplace.

Common Signs Of Burnout At Workplace

Disturbed Sleep At Night

Disturbed sleep patterns are a common symptom of burnout. Chronic stress and anxiety at work can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep or get quality sleep. This can lead to a weak immune system. Burnout can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle.

Lack of Creativity

Burnout can stifle creativity and innovation, making it challenging to think outside the box. When someone is experiencing burnout, they may feel mentally drained, depleted of energy and lacking in motivation. This can lead to a sense of stagnation and boredom, making it difficult to approach tasks with enthusiasm and creativity.

Signs of burnout at the workplace (Image Credits: Canva)

Frequent Headaches Or Muscle Pain

Chronic stress and tension caused by burnout can manifest physically leading to frequent headaches, muscle pain and other somatic symptoms. Tension headaches, migraines and back pain are common complaints among individuals experiencing burnout. This can be due to the body's 'fight or flight' response, leading to muscle tension and inflammation.

Detachment

Detachment is a common sign of burnout at the workplace where individuals start to feel disconnected from their work, colleagues and even themselves. They may feel like they're just going through the motions while lacking a sense of purpose or meaning. Detachment can lead to feelings of isolation, disengagement and a sense of being 'checked out' from work and life.

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(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)