Work stress and burnout explained

Stress versus burnout

Stress is the body's response to pressure; short bursts can be motivating, but sustained, excessive stress is harmful. Burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can develop from chronic, unmanaged work stress. It is characterised by exhaustion, feeling detached or cynical about work, and a sense of reduced effectiveness. Burnout is now recognised as an occupational phenomenon — a result of the situation, not a personal weakness.

Recognising the signs

Warning signs include persistent tiredness that rest does not fix, difficulty concentrating, irritability or low mood, dreading work, disturbed sleep, and physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach upset. People may withdraw, lose motivation, or start making more errors. Noticing these signs early — in yourself or a colleague — matters, because burnout tends to worsen if the underlying pressures continue unaddressed.

What helps

Recovery and prevention combine looking after yourself and, crucially, addressing the causes. Personal steps include protecting rest and sleep, taking real breaks and holidays, staying active, and setting boundaries around working hours and being "always on". Just as important is tackling the workload, control and support at work — through honest conversations with a manager, occupational health, or HR. Burnout rarely improves through self-care alone if the underlying demands stay unchanged.

When to seek help

If stress or burnout is affecting your health, relationships or ability to function, it is worth seeing a GP, who can advise on support and rule out or treat conditions such as depression or anxiety, which can overlap with burnout. Many workplaces offer occupational health or employee assistance programmes. Persistent low mood, hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm need prompt help. Addressing burnout is not a luxury — it protects long-term health and the ability to keep doing the work you value.