Signs you’re burned out — and how to bounce back | Laurie Santos

If you don’t feel better after the weekend, the “burnout paradox” could explain why.

In the last few decades, the concept of ‘burnout’ has become ubiquitous in the modern discourse around work and academia. But there’s a common misunderstanding about what burnout actually is: to many people, burnout is synonymous with being overworked and stressed.

Cognitive scientist and Yale professor Laurie Santos wants you to know that that’s not the case. Rather, burnout is a clinical syndrome with specific symptoms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism, and a sense of personal ineffectiveness. It can be caused by a heavy workload, but is often due to a value mismatch, unfairness, or lack of intrinsic reward.

Properly understanding burnout—and knowing how to identify it—is crucial for employing practical steps to proactively avoid the syndrome. To do so, Santos suggests 4 simple, actionable steps that can help you not only spot burnout, but stop it in its tracks.

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[quarteracreadventures]

Hugs to those who are struggling with burnout and compassion fatigue

[zoekenny]

Another contributing factor is when you've been in a prolonged situation of ambiguity. I had that experience when trying to finish my Master's thesis while also working full time. I didn't really know if I was on the right track or whether it was even worth doing finishing it but I persisted anyway. Constantly asking yourself those big questions really takes a toll.

[ReynaSingh]

“Burnout happens when you avoid being human too long”

[LudusAurea]

The thing is people really dont have a choice a lot of the time. The working class has no way to escape burnout.

[gelosyguat]

“Sense of values” which is hard to find in workplaces where people just have a sense for 💵 and 💪🏻. I think most people who experience burnout are the one’s who truly love what they’re doing and have compassion with the people around them.

[linahol]

Signs of burnout:
1. Emotional Exhaustion (workload)
2. Depersonalization (bad intentions from friends or coworkers)
3. Personal Ineffectiveness (you feel like your work doesn't matter)

[ballman]

I quit my job before I really felt the effects of burnout. This was a week ago, thank God because if I didn’t quit I could’ve had another breakdown at work. Even now I struggle to do much because emotionally I cannot handle it. Very stressful to be around family too

[nicolebogda]

It’s not just work- I’d like to hear this on a broader spectrum. Including post-covid life, family, care takers, etc. Same symptoms, still burnout- just a little different

[elspastico]

Yep. That’s me. But my burnout seems to be with life itself. I’m responsible for taking care of my mentally ill brother. I’m in charge my dads estate, and my siblings, at one point, were constantly trying to undermine me. And the paperwork never ends! And this has been my life for several years now. Taking a vacation doesn’t help because it continues to build up while I’m gone. I’ve developed anxiety over taxes and govt programs that my brother utilizes. I have a CPA who takes care of our taxes, but the anxiety is still there. The situation with my siblings is better now, but I have a great deal of resentment. Most days I feel like a zombie.

[nichelleritter]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I have been in a chronic burn out cycle for over a decade now and have only recently learned that part of it is my long undiagnosed ADHD. Now I am paying the price with chronic fatigue and constant overwhelm and exhaustion.

[zappazowie]

Professor Santos was my professor at Yale... Exceptional instructor all around

[TheNinjaFromNuevo]

The host will say anything to not say, "Metastatic Capitalism is what's burning us out."

[scootergirl]

Depersonalization is big in high stress fields. A whole lot of touchy coworkers, and for the ones that lack principle they resort to spite.

[PowersBenzoCoaching]

Great advice here. My dissertation was on burnout and predictors of personality. On the topic of Maslach’s domain of depersonalization, it’s not just about the clients but also about our peers. If we don’t feel connected to the people around us it can really increase burnout. This could happen for a number of reasons.

[Niels_Dn]

I had a burnout 2 years ago. I felt all the signs that you describe here, but my company sent me to therapy. It really felt like it was only my problem because of that.
Seeing this video I really got affirmation that the company and its culture definitely also has a contribution, which I felt like it had, but being low on energy and in a therapy you don’t really feel so confident and doubt only about yourself.

[thien_vo]

Parenting a toddler… burnout is next level

[userone]

It appears that I may still be experiencing burnout due to the necessity of managing two speaking jobs. As an introvert, this can be quite exhausting; however, it is an improvement from my previous situation. Presently, I no longer need to conceal my condition or engage in "masking." Moreover, my current work allows me to minimize interactions with my colleagues and concentrate solely on my tasks.

[nicholeayt]

Wow. This is exactly what happened to me. I thought it was depression, maybe it was both.

[LuisVasDeCamoes]

I believe that twice a year I having burnouts.
I graduated now, but in the past 5 years I've been studying in an engineering course, while working night shifts, being a parent and helping my wife with her depression while living in a foreign country...

I normally have to work long hours to provide for my family and usually before exams I feel depressed. But not long enough to be considered a clinical depression.

During those periods I tend to drinking a lot (I don't normally drink otherwise), I ignore my responsibilities, I avoid everyone and I feel like the worst person in the world.

I don't try to fight it because it will only make it last longer, but I know that after a while I get better...
It usually lasts 2 weeks to one month, but then I get better

[ada]

While I enjoyed this video, her recommendations to try to influence the environment at work to treat burnout are a bit grandiose? Most people don't have very much affect I think on what the culture is in their work or their workload, for example. I am a nurse and really the only way I could treat my own burnout (I have every one of the symptoms she's described), is to find another job or even another occupation. I guess I will be posting my resume online...