Five signs you may be suffering from burnout

Turn2Me is aiming to raise awareness of burnout and encourage people to prioritise self-care.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.

“Burnout has become an increasingly prevalent issue, affecting people across various industries,” Turn2Me CEO Fiona O’Malley said.

“As advocates for mental wellbeing, Turn2Me believes it's crucial to recognise the signs of burnout before it escalates, which is why we’ve published these five warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored.”

The five signs Turn2Me are asking people to watch out for are:

‘Persistent exhaustion’: constant tiredness in spite of getting enough sleep. This exhaustion can be mental and emotional as well as physical and make simple tasks feel overwhelming.

‘Cynicism and detachment’: where burnout comes up as a negative outlook on life, work or personal relationships. Someone becoming more cynical, detached or withdrawn over time may be suffering with burnout.

‘Decreased productivity and performance’: someone going through burnout may be less productive at work or other parts of life. despite putting in the effort. Concentrating, making decisions and completing tasks to the same standard may become difficult.

‘Increased irritability’: where impatience and frustration can come about. Small inconveniences feel much bigger and trigger strong reactions from someone experiencing burnout.

‘Physical symptoms’: these can come about as a result of burnout. They include headaches, muscle tension, onset of gastrointestinal problems or a weakened immune system.

Recognising the signs of burnout is the first step to addressing it, according to Turn2Me. They encourage people to turn to friends, family or a professional for help and taking proactive steps to manage stress.

The charity offers six free one-to-one counselling sessions and unlimited support groups on a range of issues through its website.