Burnout Syndrome is a fairly recent thing, and one that is still in the process of being fully understood. Formally recognised as a diagnosis in 2019, when it made it on to the pages of the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), it’s classed as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical condition. It’s characterised by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from your job (or feeling of negativity or cynicism related to your job), and reduced professional efficacy, but it turns out that burnout might not be purely work-based thing after all—at least not according to recent research from a team led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). 1
The researchers surveyed 813 Norwegian workers who had reported feeling burnt out but found that less than 30 percent of them said their jobs were the primary source of their burnout. These findings suggest that a broader range of factors and pressures in everyday life could lie behind those symptoms.
“People who experience burnout describe stress in their daily lives which leads to a form of depression,” said NTNU psychologist Renzo Bianchi. “You could call it depressive stress in life.”
Although some participants called work stressful and cited factors such as job security and colleague support, others pinned their burnout firmly on other life stressors. And this is not the only study to move away from burnout as occupational phenomenon. Whilst the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines burnout as “chronic workplace stress,” another study led by Bianchi and others (this time involving 468 people) found that only 44 percent pinned their burnout symptoms directly on their work. 2
And there’s more: 64 percent of participants in a US study said that their jobs were not the main cause of burnout; a study from Switzerland showed similar results; and a meta-analysis involving 48 different studies found that the connection between work and burnout was not as strong as once thought.
It’s true that most people spend most of their lives in work, but it’s also true that work stress can be compounded by other stressors elsewhere. Further research is needed before the diagnostic goalposts shift.
Burnout remains, sadly, a growing problem: Research has found that 49 percent of international expat employees had suffered from burnout in their new roles, whilst 77 percent of digital nomads had also experienced symptoms of burnout as they pursued their location-independent lives.
Elsewhere, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and small- and medium-business owners have all reported symptoms of burnout. Whether that stress be work-related or is down to a combination of factors remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, if you think you are suffering from burnout, chronic stress or, in fact, any kind of stress, there are things you can do to help, including the following
- Spend more time in nature
- Know when to start and when to stop
- Take regular breaks
- Remember that downtime is essential
- Build a good support network
- Meditate
- Try hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis
- Do yoga or Tai Chi
- Seek therapy
Burnout Syndrome is a serious matter that needs to be taken seriously. Recovery is a journey, but an unfamiliar one, and you will need a roadmap to help you find your way.
To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
