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Psychologist for children and adults

Burnout
- How to recognise, understand and overcome chronic stress at work

In today's fast-paced working life, more and more people are experiencing burnout. This state of emotional and physical exhaustion results from long-term stress at work, which leads to a loss of motivation, reduced effectiveness and worsening relationships, both professional and personal.

If your daily duties have become overwhelming and work no longer brings you joy, it may be time to understand the causes of burnout and learn how to deal with it.

What is burnout?

Definition

It is a complex problem that can result from a long-term workload, a lack of balance between professional and private life, and insufficient emotional support in the workplace. Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to:

Emotional exhaustion – a feeling that you lack energy and enthusiasm,
Depersonalisation – indifference towards colleagues and clients,
Reduced professional effectiveness – difficulty concentrating, a drop in performance and motivation.
Symptoms of burnout

Recognising burnout is not always simple, but there are typical symptoms that may indicate that your body and mind need support:

Physical symptoms:

Chronic fatigue and lack of energy,
Sleep problems (insomnia or excessive sleepiness),
Headaches, muscle tension, gastric problems.

Emotional symptoms:

A feeling of hopelessness, being overwhelmed and apathy,
Irritability, anger or emotional withdrawal,
Loss of interest in work and personal life.

Behavioural symptoms:

Reduced performance at work and difficulty concentrating,
Avoiding responsibilities, procrastination,
Social isolation and withdrawal from interpersonal contact.

Early intervention:

It is important to notice these signals in time – early intervention can significantly improve the quality of your professional and personal life.

Causes of burnout

Burnout does not appear suddenly – it is the result of an accumulation of many factors, both internal and external. The most common causes include:

Work overload: Long working hours, a lack of breaks and pressure to achieve results can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion.
A lack of work-life balance: Insufficient time for rest, relaxation and spending time with family contributes to rising stress.
Insufficient emotional support: A lack of understanding, recognition and support from supervisors or colleagues increases the risk of burnout.
Unclear expectations and lack of control: Uncertainty about goals and responsibilities, and a lack of autonomy in decision-making, can significantly affect stress levels.
Perfectionism and high demands: Excessive expectations of yourself, constantly comparing yourself with others and striving for unrealistic goals can lead to a permanent sense of failure.

Effective strategies for coping with burnout

Stress management and time organisation

Planning and prioritising:
Setting realistic goals and dividing large tasks into smaller stages helps to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Adequate breaks:
Regular breaks at work allow you to recover your strength and reduce tension.

Relaxation techniques

Lifestyle changes

Psychological support

If burnout is preventing you from enjoying life, book a consultation and regain your energy and passion!
Book an online session

Frequently asked questions

How can I help you?

What are the main symptoms of burnout?

What are the most common causes of burnout?

Is online therapy effective for burnout?

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