Career and life advice expert Erin McGoff has shed light on the often-overlooked signs of burnout, sharing eight subtle signs you might be suffering from burnout.
In a video on TikTok with more than 123,000 views, McGoff shared the subtle yet significant indicators of burnout.
"Burnout isn't just being sleepy. It can also look like stomach aches, cynicism, social isolation, phone addiction, bitterness. Burnout can change your personality," McGoff told Newsweek.
Recognized by the World Health Organization as an "occupational phenomenon," burnout is characterized by feelings of exhaustion, increased feelings of negativism or cynicism and reduced efficiency or productivity.
Evidence shows that people are more burned out than ever. Gallup's 2023 State of the Global Workplace report corroborates the pervasive nature of workplace stress, with 44 percent of respondents citing significant stress levels—the highest recorded by Gallup.
But McGoff, known for giving candid advice on navigating career challenges, shared the more subtle symptoms of burnout, with eight signs to look for:
- Being constantly exhausted
- Suffering brain fog
- Cynicism
- Impulsivity
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Headaches
- Being anti-social
- Being irritable with friends and family.
"People aren't burnt out because they're tired; they're tired because they're burnt out. It's important to listen to your body," McGoff said.
When it comes to coping with burnout, McGoff had some strategies.
"My first suggestion is always this: get a hobby. Do something that genuinely brings you joy," she said. "It might feel counterintuitive to add something into your life when you're neck deep in your work. But from what I've seen—adding a hobby [joy] creates a sharper mind and more productive hours."
In the comments, people shared their thoughts and reactions to the signs of burnout.
"This is me. so lucky I has [sic] a boss who recognizes this and I'm getting 10 days off," said one commenter.
Another wrote: "I feel like this is so many people right now."
"Sending all the positive vibes to everyone who is going through this," another viewer said in the comments.
McGoff explained that above all she believes the best way to avoid burnout is to create real separation between your work life and your personal life.
"Work from home has made it difficult to set boundaries between work and life," she said. "[It is] making it feel like we're always working. Having true time away from work where you are 100 percent unavailable is important, but rarer than ever these days."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Alice Gibbs is a Newsweek Senior Internet Trends & Culture Reporter based in the U.K. For the last two years ... Read more
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