5 things you might not know about burnout

Burnout is thought to be impacting more people than ever – especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. We talked to Culture Amp’s senior people scientist Charlotte Mosley to find out about the condition – and how it can impact us outside of work.

In 2019, burnout made it into the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Disease for the first time as a condition in its own right. Described as an occupational phenomenon “resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed,” it refers to growing feelings of exhaustion, mental distance or negativity towards our work, and reduced ability to perform our duties efficiently.

Back in 2019, burnout felt like a buzzword, often used to describe the working habits of the Millennial generation. Fast-forward one year and throw in a global pandemic, and burnout is fast becoming a lived reality for millions all over the world.

But what is burnout – and how can it impact us physically and emotionally? How might the events of 2020 have impacted our awareness and experience of burnout? We chatted to Charlotte Mosley, senior people scientist at Culture Amp, to find out more about the condition.

When we think about burnout, we often think about how it impacts our mental health first. We talk about stress and anxiety, as well as social withdrawal and negative emotions. But burnout can manifest in physical symptoms too, says Charlotte.

“Burnout can present itself in many ways and affect a person’s mental, physical and emotional state,” Charlotte says. “One of the most common signs of burnout is an increase in sick days or coming to work late or tired. Other signs include finding it difficult to focus or think clearly, or being easily distracted.

“Another telltale sign that someone is feeling burnt out is if they talk about how little time they have for work and personal life, or say things such as ‘I just need to get through the next month and then things will be more manageable’ or ‘I’m just tired, I’m sure some time off will help.’”

Physical symptoms of burnout may include insomnia and tiredness, headaches, stomach issues, or heart palpitations.

It’s easy to think of burnout as a sudden flood of stress and negative emotions – but in reality, burnout is more like a leak, a steady drip of negative experiences and stressors that erode us bit by bit.

“Burnout is not something that people suddenly experience,” explains Charlotte. “You don’t wake up and think ‘I feel burnt out today’ – rather it’s something that builds up over time due to long-term negative well-being and stress.”

Research backs this up, and psychologists have identified several phases to burnout. In the first phase, we tend to be more high-energy and committed, bringing high levels of creativity to our roles. As stress begins to rise, we may find it hard to switch off after work, or feel anxious or struggle to focus. As burnout continues, we may start withdrawing from social activities, and feel more physical symptoms, including fatigue or exhaustion.

In recent months, we’ve frequently seen the term burnout attributed to those in caring professions, like the doctors on the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic, or business leaders working amid high-stress conditions. However, we all experience things differently – and we’re all susceptible to burnout.

“In terms of what triggers burnout, or who it affects, it’s a misconception that burnout only impacts people in very senior roles or emotionally stressful jobs – anyone can experience burnout, regardless of role or industry,” Charlotte says.

“There are many things that can contribute to burnout including heavy workload, lack of clarity around roles or expectations, and poor leadership,” she adds. “However, triggers for burnout aren’t just limited to the workplace - financial and family-related stress can also play a part.”

While the WHO classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon, we know that long-term stress and negative emotions can have an impact on our home life, too. Over the past few months, many of us have experienced the added stressors of juggling work and home lives, childcare, and financial worries – all of which have had a knock-on effect on how equipped and energized we feel both at home and the office, or home office.

“While burnout is most commonly associated with work, the impact that it can have spreads much further than just the office,” agrees Charlotte. “People who are experiencing burnout can experience a general lack of motivation, so may seem more detached and start to withdraw from social activities. Burnout can also lead to people having a cynical or negative outlook on things, and they may become more irritable or sensitive, which can also impact relationships with friends and family.

“It’s important to keep in mind that employees can experience burnout in their personal lives, which can carry over into their work,” she adds. “Managers shouldn’t assume that an employee is immune from burnout just because things at work aren’t busy.”

Burnout can happen at any time of year, but we’re more likely to experience it in the winter months as we try to juggle the end-of-year work sprint, family obligations, and preparing for the festive season.

“Often the end of the year represents a culmination of all the hard work from the previous 12 months,” Charlotte says. “For many, it’s also the time when plans for the year ahead are being forged and workloads are at a high. That coupled with the fact the end of year is usually busy outside of work too with parties, Christmas preparations, and social occasions people can often ‘burn the candle at both ends’ during this period.”

And as 2020 draws to a close, Charlotte adds that cases of burnout may be higher than usual this year – largely due to the additional stressors the pandemic has levied on us, and an inability to mitigate them through our preferred means.

“2020 has been incredibly difficult for many people, and this is certainly playing out in the data we have collected,” she explains. “Not only are people faced with the usual stressors of work but many are also dealing with added pressures as a result of Covid-19 such as juggling childcare, caring for family, job uncertainty, plus general anxiety and uncertainty about when lockdown restrictions will ease.

“Since the summer we’ve seen that fewer people are feeling able to switch off and make time for rest, and resilience is also starting to wane. Only 59% of people feel able to bounce back from challenges as quickly as they usually would, and a similar amount say that their stress feels manageable.

“This year, we might expect cases of burnout to be even more prevalent with the pressures of the last few months really taking their toll,” Charlotte adds. “This is compounded by the fact lockdown restrictions are preventing people from doing the usual things they would do to combat stress or aid their well-being. For example, people are unable to meet and socialize with friends and family, go to the gym or engage in other activities that can usually help mitigate against burnout.”