It takes an average time of three months to a year to recover from burnout. How long your burnout lasts will depend on your level of emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue, as well as if you experience any relapses or periods of stagnant recovery.
One of the best ways to return to work after being off sick with employee burnout is to do so gradually. A phased return to work after stress, including reduced hours or amended duties, can help to minimise any triggers.
Burnout doesn't go away on its own; rather, it will get worse unless you address the underlying issues causing it. If you ignore burnout, it will only cause you further harm down the line, so it's important that you begin recovery as soon as possible.
Burnout isn't something you can recover from in three easy-peasy steps. It can take weeks, months, or even years. In order to begin the process of healing, you'll have to recognize the signs your body and mind give you once you're teetering at the edge.
Burnout symptoms are usually temporary and disappear after you address them. If not addressed, these can also affect your physical health and cause heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol, and even type 2 diabetes. Depression symptoms, on the other hand, can get in the way of your daily life and are longer-term.
The final stage of burnout is habitual burnout. This means that the symptoms of burnout are so embedded in your life that you are likely to experience a significant ongoing mental, physical or emotional problem, as opposed to occasionally experiencing stress or burnout.
Your brain on burnout
Chronic stress has long been known to contribute to mental and physical diseases, and now researchers are able to capture what happens to the brain. “One of the most striking (effects) is thinning of the gray matter of an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex,” Arnsten said.
While quiet quitting may help ease burnout in the short term, it is not a long-term solution, workplace experts tell CNBC Make It.
To avoid a 'backlog of burnout,' make taking vacation a habit throughout your career, experts say. Researchers and health experts have long stressed the importance of taking time off.
If left untreated, burnout can become a part of your everyday life and eventually lead to anxiety or depression. You can also begin to experience chronic mental and physical fatigue that prevents you from working. Your job status may be put in jeopardy if you continue on this path.
Burnout is Taking a Heavy Toll. Burnout is the number one reason employees cite for leaving their current jobs. Burnout is a diagnosable state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion brought on by long-term stress.
Research is clear: seven to eight hours of sleep can reverse emotional exhaustion and increase energy levels. Physiological recovery is the foundation for burnout recovery, and getting enough sleep is essential for the body to repair and regenerate.
Your mind and body work hard to make you succeed in life, and when that work eventually drains you, you may be more prone to getting sick or relapsing. When you feel that you may be getting close to burnout, it is essential to handle it immediately before the consequences arise.
Being burned out means feeling empty and mentally exhausted, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring. People experiencing burnout often don't see any hope of positive change in their situations. If excessive stress feels like you're drowning in responsibilities, burnout is a sense of being all dried up.
Burnout is when a person reaches a state of total mental, physical and emotional exhaustion and it has some similar signs and symptoms to a nervous breakdown. Your doctor can prescribe medicines for many mental health conditions, and refer you to other healthcare professionals, such as psychologists or psychiatrists.
Physical Burnout Symptoms
Chronic stress may be felt physically in terms of having more aches and pains, low energy levels, and changes in appetite. 4 All of these physical signs suggest that you may be experiencing burnout.
Burnout can have a significant impact on our physical health, including our immune system, energy levels, and overall well-being. To recover from burnout, our bodies need time to rest and replenish themselves. This means taking time to prioritize sleep, nutrition, and self-care... and not just a little bit.
Burnout is a serious matter. It can lead to personal and professional dissatisfaction; social isolation; relationship problems; depression; substance abuse; and, in extreme cases, suicide. Therefore, it's important to learn how to prevent burnout and to seek professional attention if it occurs.
Explain in clear terms what you believe is leading to burnout. Examples include unreasonable deadlines, unfair treatment, and unclear expectations. Morand recommends reminding your boss that you value your job and are being honest in an effort to resolve the burnout.
The bottom line
Despite this overlap, burnout and depression are different. Burnout can usually be resolved by taking time away from the activities that cause you stress. On the other hand, depression is a mental health condition that doesn't usually go away on its own.