People who work in helping professions often enter the work because they care about other people. Counsellors, therapists, healthcare professionals, social workers, teachers, coaches and support workers are frequently drawn to roles that involve listening, containing distress, solving problems and being emotionally available. That capacity to care is part of what makes the work meaningful, … Read more

Burnout and depression can look surprisingly similar. Both can involve exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep, reduced motivation and a sense that ordinary demands have become harder to manage. When you are feeling depleted, it is not always obvious whether the problem is primarily work-related burnout, depression, or a combination of the two. The distinction matters … Read more

For some people, saying no does not immediately feel like an available option. For others, the difficulty lies in anticipating how the other person might react. Will they be annoyed? Will they think you are selfish, difficult or unhelpful? Could it affect your relationship, your reputation or even your job? If you are used to … Read more

Burnout is often described in emotional terms: feeling depleted, detached from work, irritable or unable to face another day. But prolonged work-related stress can also be accompanied by very physical symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, sleep disturbance and digestive problems. That does not mean every unexplained physical symptom is caused by burnout. Persistent or … Read more

If your burnout score is high, the answer is not always to make a dramatic life change overnight. Sometimes the first useful step is much smaller. When you are already depleted, even good advice can feel like another demand. “Exercise more”, “sleep better”, “set boundaries” or “take time off” may all be sensible, but they … Read more

When you are exhausted, taking a weekend off can feel like the obvious solution. And sometimes it helps. A slower couple of days, more sleep, fewer demands and a break from work may leave you feeling temporarily better. But if you are experiencing burnout, that improvement may not last. Burnout usually develops gradually, through sustained … Read more

Burnout is a familiar term, but it is often used loosely. People may use it to describe exhaustion, frustration, stress, low motivation or simply feeling overwhelmed. That can make it difficult to know what a burnout score is actually telling you. The Burnout Risk Tool on this site is based on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, … Read more