What should you know about combating burnout?

Burnout is a pattern of emotional and physical exhaustion linked with prolonged demands and too little recovery. You may feel detached from work or responsibilities, less effective, irritable, or unable to switch off. Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, feeling anxious and reduced interest in sex can occur alongside it. These symptoms can overlap with other health problems, so a clinician may consider your sleep, mood, medicines and general health rather than assuming one cause.

Name the pressures that can change and choose one practical boundary, such as protecting a meal break, declining a non-urgent task or agreeing a realistic finish time. Keep wake and sleep times steady, make room for gentle movement, and use brief pauses away from screens. Tell someone you trust what is happening; support from a manager, family member or counsellor can make changes easier. Avoid relying on alcohol or sedating medicines to recover. If sleep remains difficult, read about Insomnia or Difficulty Sleeping, and explore Burnout and Fatigue for related information.

Arrange a medical appointment when exhaustion, low mood, anxiety, poor sleep or concentration continues despite meaningful rest, or when work, relationships or self-care are being affected. Seek urgent help if you feel unsafe, have thoughts of harming yourself, cannot care for basic needs, or develop severe confusion or chest pain. A clinician can check for depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, anaemia, thyroid problems or medicine effects and help plan appropriate support.

Could another health problem or medicine be contributing to my exhaustion? What changes should I make first? Would talking therapy, workplace support or a sleep assessment help? Which warning signs mean I should seek urgent help?