Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress . Though it’s most often brought on by problems at work, it can also be driven by stress in other areas of life, such as parenting , caretaking , or romantic relationships .
How Can You Deal With Burnout?
Anyone who’s running out of gas—at work, at school, or at home—can take steps to alleviate the deleterious effects of burnout and, if necessary, reevaluate their approach to their daily life. Having a sense of purpose, having an impact on others, or feeling as if one is making the world a better place are all effective in limiting burnout. Often, meaningfulness, wherever it comes from, can counteract the negative aspects of one's day job. Other motivators include autonomy as well as a good, energizing challenge.
Maybe, but it’s not the only option. Speaking up about your concerns or restructuring your work environment to address burnout may be less risky but equally effective. Nurturing your relationships, adopting self-care habits, and focusing on hobbies outside of work can also help restore your sense of self and mitigate stress in the workplace.
When you have too many conflicting responsibilities, simply saying “no” to new tasks is an important (albeit challenging) way to reduce your workload. Scheduling regular breaks, starting and stopping at former times, and limiting attempts at multitasking can help maintain boundaries and reduce feelings of burnout.
Adjusting your work hours or location (perhaps by working from home more often) can help significantly, as can outsourcing or sharing responsibilities when possible. Setting clear boundaries between “work” and “life” —for example, by not checking email during off-hours—practicing self-care, and allowing for adequate downtime can also be effective strategies.
What if Burnout Isn’t Caused by Work?
Jobs aren’t the only source of the chronic stress that causes burnout. Parents, partners, and non-professional caregivers can also experience persistent exhaustion, feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities, or secretly believe that they have failed at their role. These experiences are referred to as parental burnout, relationship burnout, and caregiver burnout, respectively.
Non-work burnout is less well-known than that caused by career stress. Stereotypes and stigma —particularly related to parenting —can make those living with non-work-related burnout feel as if they are to blame for their challenges. As a result, they often hide their struggles from others.
But burnout, in any form, can have severe consequences if left untreated. Discussing it openly—with a spouse, family members, friends, or a therapist—is often the first step to addressing its symptoms, getting help, and avoiding negative outcomes.
The idea that only bad parents get burned out is a harmful myth; any parent can experience burnout . Parenting is deeply rewarding for many, but it’s also demanding and challenging, and parents must balance work schedules, outside responsibilities, their own well-being, and their children's particular needs—in many cases, without adequate support.
Explore More About Burnout
For a comprehensive understanding of burnout, read our complete guide: