Burnout is a recognised occupational phenomenon with identifiable components, and it develops over months in ways that are easy to rationalise while they are happening.
The three components
Exhaustion that rest does not resolve. Not ordinary tiredness – a depletion that persists after a weekend or a holiday.
Cynicism and detachment from the work, where things you used to care about produce nothing.
Reduced sense of accomplishment, where nothing you do feels like it matters.
All three together is the pattern. Any one alone is common and less concerning.
The early signs
Dreading specific days or meetings. Irritability that is out of proportion. Difficulty starting things that used to be routine. Withdrawing from colleagues.
Working longer while achieving less, which is the most reliable single indicator and the easiest to misread as needing to work harder still.
What causes it
Not workload alone. The research points more consistently at lack of control, unfairness, insufficient reward, absence of community, and a mismatch between your values and what you are asked to do.
A heavy workload with autonomy and recognition is sustainable. A moderate one without them frequently is not.
What helps
Early, changes to the work itself – scope, control, recognition. A holiday helps temporarily and does not address the cause.
Later, it usually requires a substantial change, and frequently professional support.
The important note
This is general information. Persistent exhaustion and low mood can also indicate medical conditions, and anyone experiencing them for weeks should speak to a doctor rather than assuming it is work.