Recognizing the signs of burnout is more critical than ever. A recent study done by Canada Life revealed that one in four workers in Canada now report feeling burned out “most of the time” or “always” – a noticeable rise from 21% last year.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is defined as feeling depleted, exhausted, mentally distant or cynical about one’s job, with reduced competence and effectiveness at work.
If left untreated, burnout can lead to serious health issues including: coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, insomnia and depressive symptoms.
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds slowly. The longer it goes unaddressed, the damaging it becomes. Here are some common signs of burnout:
You might feel anxious every Sunday night or dread Monday mornings. If you notice a persistent lack of focus of energy, or if even minor tasks feel overwhelming, it could be more than just a rough week.
While burnout is often seen as emotional or psychological, it can show up in your body too. Burn out related fatigue is persistent and doesn’t go away with rest. Other overlooked physical symptoms include:
If you’re getting sick more often or feel physically rundown without a clear reason, your body may be reacting to prolonged stress and exhaustion. Recognizing these symptoms early is critical before it becomes a health crisis
You might think burnout stays at the office – but real life isn’t like the show Severance, where one can neatly separate their professional and personal selves. Burnout follows you home.
Burnout can cause anxiety, depression and a sense of hopelessness or numbness. Your social personality may fade, making you feel disconnected from friends, emotionally unavailable to your partner, or easily irritate by loved ones.
Over time, this emotional drain can put strain on your relationships, erode your confidence and make it harder to feel joy – even outside work. Recognizing this spillover effect is essential to addressing burnout holistically.
Burnout at work is often the result of environmental stressors. Here are common work place red flags that fuel burnout:
If your work goes unrecognized, or your job lacks purpose, it’s easy to feel undervalued or invisible. If you feel like you’re constantly ‘on’ with no time to recharge, it’s a clear sign that something needs to change – either in your work environment or how you react to it.
The infographic below from this LinkedIn post does a great job in summarizing some of the redflags of a high burnout workplace:
If you recognize these signs in your own job, it might be time to set firmer boundaries and consider alternative workplaces that support a healthy work-life balance before your health is at risk.
When more responsibilities came my way, I took them on without hesitation – thinking that saying “yes” and going the extra mile would impress senior leadership.
Pulling late nights and getting a simple “thank you” made it feel worthwhile. Until it wasn’t. My body gave out, and I realized no amount of praise could make up for the cost to my health.
If you’re feeling this way too – exhausted, disconnected and running on empty – it’s time to listen to your body and mind. Burnout isn’t something you can hustle you way out of.
Here are a few things that helped me, and might help you too:
Most importantly, burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak – it means you’ve been strong for too long without support.
While some work stress is inevitable, chronic burnout is preventable with the right awareness, habits and boundaries. To stay well and protect your mental health, you need to make space for rest, reflection and balance. It’s important to make this a regular part of your routine.
Here's how you can proactively prevent burnout at work:
Taking care of yourself doesn't mean you're doing less. It means showing up sustainably, consistently and with purpose.