What should you know about burnout in the workplace?

A workplace may be contributing when deadlines, understaffing, unclear roles, conflict, low control or constant availability leave little time to recover. People may feel detached from their work, become short-tempered, make unusual mistakes or dread the next shift. These experiences deserve attention even when colleagues appear to be coping. Review [Burnout](/conditions/burnout/) to understand the wider pattern.

Name the pressure precisely: workload, hours, interruptions, role conflict or lack of breaks. Discuss one practical adjustment with a supervisor, such as reprioritising tasks, sharing cover, setting contact hours or scheduling uninterrupted work. Protect meals, sleep and time away from work. If worry or poor sleep dominates, [Feeling Anxious](/symptoms/feeling-anxious/) and [Difficulty Sleeping](/symptoms/difficulty-sleeping/) may help you describe what is happening.

Seek an appointment if exhaustion, detachment or reduced functioning persists, affects home life, or makes attendance and safe performance difficult. Get urgent help for thoughts of self-harm, inability to care for yourself, severe confusion or immediate danger. A clinician can also check for medical contributors to fatigue and sleep change.

What else could explain these symptoms? Which changes should I make first? How will we review whether I am improving? What support is available if work demands cannot change quickly?