What should you know about reducing burnout?

Burnout is a state of exhaustion related to prolonged work or caring demands, with reduced energy, detachment, or a sense that tasks are becoming harder to manage. Fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feeling anxious, and difficulty sleeping may occur. Burnout can overlap with insomnia, depression, anxiety, or a physical illness, so the label should not replace an assessment when symptoms are persistent.

Identify the demands that drain you and discuss a specific adjustment, such as protected breaks, a smaller workload, or shared responsibilities. Keep a regular sleep and wake pattern, eat consistently, and use gentle activity that feels manageable. Protect time away from work messages and choose one supportive person to update. A clinician or counsellor can help with coping strategies and check for insomnia, anxiety, or other conditions.

Arrange an appointment if exhaustion affects work, relationships, sleep, or daily safety, or if self-care changes do not help. Seek urgent help if you have thoughts of harming yourself, feel unable to stay safe, or cannot function because of severe distress. Contact emergency services in an immediate crisis.

Could another health problem or insomnia be contributing? What support is suitable for my workload and sleep? Would counselling, time away, or a workplace adjustment help? How can we review my progress?