thesis writing burnout

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Thesis burnout and how to prevent it in thesis writing.

What is thesis burnout?

Thesis burnout refers to the state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that occurs as a result of prolonged and intense thesis writing. It is characterized by feelings of overwhelm, lack of motivation, and decreased productivity. Burnout can have a detrimental impact on the overall well-being and academic performance of students. It is important to recognize the signs of thesis burnout and take proactive measures to prevent it.

Causes of thesis burnout

Thesis burnout can be caused by a combination of factors that contribute to stress and overwhelm. Lack of time management is a common cause, as students often struggle to balance their thesis work with other responsibilities. Perfectionism can also lead to burnout, as students put immense pressure on themselves to produce flawless work. Additionally, lack of support from advisors or peers can contribute to feelings of isolation and frustration. It is important to address these causes and implement strategies to prevent burnout.

Effects of thesis burnout

Thesis burnout can have serious consequences on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of students. Physically, it can lead to exhaustion , insomnia , and a weakened immune system. Emotionally, it can cause anxiety , depression , and feelings of hopelessness . Behaviorally, it can result in procrastination , lack of motivation , and poor academic performance. It is important to recognize these signs and take proactive measures to prevent and address thesis burnout.

Recognizing the Signs of Thesis Burnout

Physical symptoms.

Thesis burnout can manifest in various physical symptoms that should not be ignored. Persistent headaches , insomnia , and chronic fatigue are common signs of excessive stress and mental exhaustion. Additionally, individuals experiencing thesis burnout may also notice changes in their appetite, such as loss of appetite or overeating . It is important to pay attention to these physical symptoms and address them promptly to prevent further deterioration of mental and physical health.

Emotional symptoms

Emotional symptoms of thesis burnout can manifest in various ways. Feelings of frustration , anxiety , and depression are common among students experiencing burnout. Additionally, lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating may be present. It is important to recognize these emotional symptoms and address them promptly to prevent further negative effects on mental health and academic performance.

Behavioral symptoms

Behavioral symptoms of thesis burnout can manifest in various ways. Procrastination is a common behavioral symptom, where students find themselves constantly delaying their work and struggling to meet deadlines. Isolation is another behavioral symptom, where students withdraw from social activities and isolate themselves from friends and family. Additionally, irritability and increased frustration may occur, leading to conflicts with others. It is important to address these behavioral symptoms and take steps to prevent thesis burnout.

Preventing Thesis Burnout

Setting realistic goals.

Setting realistic goals is crucial in preventing thesis burnout. Thesis writing can be overwhelming, especially when there are multiple tasks and deadlines to meet. It is important to break down the thesis into smaller, manageable goals. This can be done by creating a timeline or Gantt chart to track progress and ensure that each goal is achievable within a reasonable timeframe. By setting realistic goals, students can avoid feeling overwhelmed and reduce the risk of burnout.

Creating a balanced schedule

When it comes to preventing thesis burnout, creating a balanced schedule is crucial. By allocating time for research, writing, and relaxation, you can ensure that you are not overwhelmed by the demands of your thesis. It is important to prioritize tasks and set realistic deadlines to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, incorporating breaks and leisure activities into your schedule can help rejuvenate your mind and prevent burnout. Remember, a well-balanced schedule is key to maintaining your productivity and mental well-being throughout the thesis writing process.

Practicing self-care

Practicing self-care is crucial in preventing thesis burnout. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining productivity and focus. This can include activities such as regular exercise, getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and engaging in hobbies or relaxation techniques. It is important to prioritize self-care and make time for activities that bring you joy and help alleviate stress. By incorporating self-care into your routine, you can reduce the risk of burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Importance of addressing thesis burnout

Thesis burnout is a serious issue that can have detrimental effects on a student's mental and physical well-being. It is crucial to address and prevent thesis burnout to ensure the successful completion of a thesis project. Ignoring or downplaying the signs of burnout can lead to decreased productivity, poor quality work, and even long-term health problems. By prioritizing self-care, setting realistic goals, and creating a balanced schedule, students can mitigate the risk of burnout and maintain their motivation and focus throughout the thesis writing process. It is essential for academic institutions to provide resources and support systems to help students navigate and overcome thesis burnout. With the right strategies and support, students can overcome burnout and achieve their academic goals.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, thesis burnout is a serious issue that many students face during the process of writing their thesis. It can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health, as well as academic performance. Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial in order to prevent further damage. By setting realistic goals, creating a balanced schedule, and practicing self-care, students can reduce the risk of burnout and maintain their well-being throughout the thesis writing process. It is important for institutions and advisors to address this issue and provide resources and support to students. Remember, taking care of oneself is not a sign of weakness, but rather a necessary step towards success in thesis writing.

Resources for support

If you're experiencing thesis burnout, it's important to seek support and resources to help you navigate through this challenging time. Here are some resources that can provide assistance:

• University counseling services : Many universities offer counseling services specifically for students dealing with academic stress.
• Peer support groups : Joining a support group with fellow thesis writers can provide a sense of community and understanding.
• Online forums and communities : There are online platforms where you can connect with other students going through similar experiences and share tips and advice.
• Self-help books and articles : There are numerous books and articles available that offer strategies and techniques for managing thesis burnout.

Remember, reaching out for support is not a sign of weakness but a proactive step towards taking care of your mental well-being.

We think that this book can support you in particular: 

Thesis Action Plan  by  Research Rebels®

Gain confidence in your thesis journey with the Thesis Action Plan. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions, from pinpointing your topic to crafting a flawless report. Eliminate uncertainty and navigate your thesis with precision.

You might also be interested in these blog posts:

• Tips for Researching and Organizing Your Thesis
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Li-Wei Wei Lecturer, Department of General Education, Chinese International College, Dhurakij Pundit University, Thailand

Dr. Li-Wei (Henry) Wei is a distinguished researcher, serving as a full-time Doctoral Pedagogue at the illustrious Chinese International College, a renowned institution within the acclaimed Dhurakij Pundit University. His broad spectrum of academic interest covers an impressive range of disciplines, inclusive of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL), English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Writing Instruction, Language Education Studies, Collocational Analysis, Research in Higher Education, Educational Psychology and to name but a few. Esteemed as an integral figure within the Thai-Chinese scholarly community at DPU Thailand, Dr. Wei has contributed to the academic world through an extensive corpus of insightful publications. Concurrently, he is engaged in an ongoing series of research projects aimed at broadening the horizons of his fields of expertise. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and dedication to his discipline aligns with his ultimate goal of achieving the respected title of professorship.

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MIXED-METHOD ANALYSIS OF PREDISPOSING FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THESIS-WRITING BURNOUT AMONGST CHINESE POSTGRADUATES

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Yu, J. H., Chae, S. J., & Chang, K. H. (2016). The relationship among self-efficacy, perfectionism and academic burnout in medical school students. Korean Journal of Medical Education, 28(1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2016.9

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Are You Creating Your Own Burnout in Grad School?

July 10, 2022 by Dora Farkas, PhD 8 Comments

You might be creating your own grad school burnout if you try to be “too productive”

“I want to be more productive, but I just keep disappointing myself. It’s like I am always going through a burn out and then getting distracted and procrastinating.”

Sheila was in her 10th year of graduate school, and she really wanted to graduate.

She wanted to be more produ ctive, but didn’t know how.

When I asked her how she defined “more productive” she hesitated.

She is not alone in her constant uphill battle of trying to be more productive while feeling burnt out.

Many students tell themselves that they “should” be more productive, but they have a tough time defining what it would take to reach their desired level of productivity.

It is tough to achieve something that is not well-defined. 

Besides the pressure that students face in academia, the most common source of grad school burnout is the lack of structure.

In college most students have classes back to back and one exam after another.

While college is a busy time, short-term deadlines keep you on your toes.

If you have ever worked at a typical job, you know that most supervisors expect very quick turnaround times.

You usually have a few days to complete an assignment, or maybe just a few hours.

Completing assignments in college and jobs are similar to running sprints.

You give all you can for a short burst of time, and then you recover on the weekends and during vacations.

In graduate school your deadlines are very long, typically months or maybe years.

Instead of a sprint, you are running a marathon, which requires a completely different strategy.

You cannot “give it all you got” for 5-6 years and 7 days a week, and get a PhD at the end.

Yet, this is what many students try to do, because they don’t have a well-defined structure that helps them set reasonable hours and realistic goals.

Driving yourself so hard for such an extended period of time can lead to a grad school burnout.

When you experience a burnout it can last for weeks, maybe even months.

Once you are in a burnout cycle, it is very difficult to regain motivation.

Each time you go through a burnout cycle, you become more and more exhausted and frustrated.

Some students who started graduate student with enthusiasm, decide to drop out due to exhaustion, lack of motivation or loss of interest in their project.

How do get out of a burnout cycle, or better yet, how do you prevent yourself from falling into one?

Myths That Create the Grad School Burnout Cycle

Nobody intends to have a burnout.

We just want to be more productive and get results faster.

Yet, a combination of an unstructured environment, lack of guidance, and poorly-defined projects can lead to long hours at work without getting results. 

In addition there are many myths about graduate school that actually prevent students from reaching their full potential.

Most of these myths are silent, and even many senior students don’t realize that they aren’t true.

Myth#1: More Hours at Work Leads to More Progress

This is true to a certain extent. Of course you need some minimal amount of time to do your work.

Parkinson’s Law, which states that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion,” can be especially dangerous in  graduate school where you have long stretches of unstructured time.

In an effort to generate results and publish, students commit to long hours at work, even at the cost of their health and relationships.

If you give yourself an entire weekend to complete a presentation, you will probably take up the entire weekend.

However, if you only give yourself 2 hours, you will be so focused that even if you don’t finish it you will probably make good progress on it.

One of the most life changing concepts I heard about is called the “Default Mode of the Brain.”

The default network of your brain becomes active when you are not focused on a task, and this is time when you become creative and come up with unexpected insights.

Do you ever wonder why you get your best ideas in the shower, during a walk, or when you are having fun?

It is because at these times your brain is not focused on the problem, and the default network becomes active.

If you chain yourself to your desk for the whole weekend, trying to force yourself to come up with ideas for a presentation, you will exhaust yourself and the quality of your work will suffer.

When you are force yourself to focus , the default mode is deactivated and your creativity shuts off.  

You are much more likely to achieve your desired results if you structure your day so that you have frequent breaks and regular exerc ise. 

Myth #2: My work needs to be perfect

Perfectionism is one of the vestigial attitudes from college, and it is a very common source of grad school burnout.

We are used to striving for perfect SAT scores, perfect GRE scores, and a perfect grade point average.

Research works a little differently.

Yes, you should be meticulous, but a “perfect” thesis does not exist.

Experiments are not perfectly reproducible.

In fact, one expects a 10-20% error between data sets. Perfectionism can also take its toll during the writing of a thesis.

I advise students to “let go” of their thesis when they are confident that is it 95-98% complete.

How do you know if you have written a thesis that is good enough?

C onsult with your advisor and read other theses from your department to see what constitutes a doctoral dissertation.

You might be surprised at how much you have already accomplished.

Myth #3: I am great at multitasking

Actually it is impossible for your brain to multitask.

When you think you are multitasking you are just switching back and forth between tasks.

When you do task A, you are ignoring task B and vice versa.

The constant switching between different tasks actually leads to reduced performance on all of the tasks and exhaustion.

That’s why you might feel exhausted after a busy day, when you actually did not accomplish much.

Our inability to “truly” multitask, is the reason why it is not a good idea to drive and talk on the cell phone at the same time, or to try to read a journal article while watching TV.

You might be able to get the gist of the journal article while hearing the latest news, but it impossible to get into depth in your article if you are also trying to process information from the TV.

Myth #4: I need to abuse my body to get work done

This is a silent myth- you might be doing it without realizing it.

Do you ever skip lunch, cut down to dangerously low levels of sleep, or deprive yourself of exercise in order to meet a deadline?

As a former student I am very familiar with the concept of “crunch time.”

Sometimes, there really is no time for exercise, and loss of sleep is nearly inevitable.

However, you cannot keep this pace up for long periods of time.

If you try to work at 120% efficiency for extended periods of time, you are creating your own grad school burnout. 

A consistently poor diet that is high in processed carbohydrates can also lead to a burnout.

Foods that contain high levels of processed carbohydrates (donuts, bagels, pasta) lead to fluctuations on your blood glucose levels.

After you eat a meal or snack that is high in processed carbohydrates, such as pastry, there will be a spike in your blood glucose levels.

This can give you a quick burst of energy, also known as a “sugar high.” 

However, the high levels of glucose in your blood stream will send a signal to your body to release insulin to remove the excess glucose.

Once the glucose is removed from your blood stream, you will experience fatigue and lose your focus. 

While our bodies are amazing, they cannot take abuse for extended periods of time.

Many students in their twenties experience stress-related conditions due to lack of sleep and poor nutrition that lead to poor performance and even chronic health problems. 

 Myth #5: My thesis has to be groundbreaking

Many students are very enthusiastic and ambitious when they enter graduate school and carry very high expectations from themselves.

While ambition does motivate you, unrealistically high expectations can lead to disappointment, frustration and burnout.

  Simply put: if you expect yourself to do pioneering work in graduate school, you will probably make your life harder than it needs to  be.

A distinguished professor at a prestigious university put it succinctly:

“My students usually think that they have to do more than they actually need to.” 

He did not expect groundbreaking work from his students (even though he was one of the world’s leading experts in his field).

However, he did expect carefully thought-out theses that showed his students were able to carry out independent research.

The idea that you have to create groundbreaking work to succeed in graduate school is a myth.

Focus on taking advantage of graduate school as a learning opportunity and you will feel less stressed and make more progress.

How to Break (or Prevent)  The Grad School Burnout Cycle

The best way to prevent or break the burnout cycle is to refute the myths that are the root cause of it.

Simply bringing awareness to these false beliefs will help you to break habits that lead to fatigue and productivity.

Tip #1:  Structure your day so that it includes frequent breaks away from your work

One of the biggest mistakes students make is to make “reading email” their break from work.

In order to give yourself a real break and activate the default mode of your brain (that will lead to creative solutions), you need to be away from your desk. 

I remember that when I was interviewing for graduate school programs, one professor told me that the most useful advice he ever gives to a student is to:

“Just go and sit under a tree.” 

As most graduate students are already overachievers, it is not helpful to tell them to work harder.

When you are away from your desk, you are giving the default network in your brain (the back burner) to get activated and solve problems while you are relaxing.

What could be better than that?

Tip #2: Give yourself permission to make mistakes

When I was in the third grade I started to become self-conscious about my spelling and grammar, which actually stunted my ability to write creatively.

My teacher, who was one of the most respected teachers in my school, told me:

“I have been teaching 3rd grade for 28 years and I still make mistakes every day.  Just write from your heart and we will correct your mistakes later.”

While at the time neither my teacher and I thought I would get a PhD, her advice helped me to get over my tendency to try to make everything perfect.

A llowing myself to make mistakes (at least on the first draft) was essential to help me complete my thesis by the deadline.

By not letting perfectionism get in the way of my creativity, I was able to get my ideas on paper for the first draft of my thesis without being concerned about the spelling, grammar, or even the data analysis/interpretation.

Whether you are still designing your studies or are writing your thesis, give yourself permission to just go for it, even if it is not perfect.

You can always correct your grammar/spelling and data analysis later.

However, you need to have a starting point, something on paper, in order to be able to create high quality work. 

Tip #3 Set up your daily structure so that you minimize the necessity to multitask

I know, I know…this sounds impossible, especially if you have a family.

The good news is that most of the skills you gain as a parent are transferable to academia too – talk about efficiency!

If you are a parent, I understand your challenges.

I had to write my grant for my postdoctoral fellowship while taking care of my newborn daughter.

I actually submitted all the necessary information for grant before my due date.

Unfortunately, I got a notice the day before my due date that I had to revise my grant within the following two weeks.

Sometimes it seems impossible to avoid multitasking

However, once I realized that I was less efficient when I multitasked, I was able to restructure my days so that I reduced the number of occasions when I had to multitask.

For example, I set aside specific times to check my email, rather than jumping back and forth between my work and email. 

I also set aside some days to run experiments, and other days to write manuscripts, rather than try to write while experiments were running in the background.

While some people might claim they can multitask, in most cases you will be more efficient if you fully put your focus on one type of activity (running experiments vs. writing), versus trying to do them in parallel. 

As a parent, I also “compartmentalized” my schedule.

When I am with my kids, I commit to being 100% with them (anyone who has tried to work while watching kids run around knows how futile this can be). 

Tip #4: Nurture your mind and body unconditionally

We are all familiar with the concept of “rewarding” ourselves for doing great work.

In fact, using rewards (eg going out to the movies or dinner with friends), can be very motivating to help us complete our work.

However, if you only nurture yourself when you do good, you are creating a vicious cycle.

Neglecting your mind and body by depriving yourself of “food, folks, and fun”, will inevitably lead to a burnout. 

Your body needs rest, fuel, and a supportive community to stay health and productive in grad school.

Of course, you can reserve special treats (such as going to your favorite restaurant) for special occasions, but you always need to provide yourself with a sufficient sleep, nutrition, and recreation  regardless of your performance. 

Tip #5: Reach out for support to help you keep your thesis on track

 I interviewed over 100 PhDs who are now successful professionals in academia in industry to find out how they would advise current graduate students. 

The #1 thing they would do differently if they could start graduate school all over again was to join a support group.

A support group can be formal through your university, or informal with your friends and hobby groups.

Of course, when you have technical questions your thesis advisor or committee members are the best to turn to for advice.

The reason that most PhDs would join a support group if they could start graduate school all over again, is that the biggest challenges they experienced were not technical. 

They could get support for technical questions from professors, but they had few people to turn to when they experienced loss of motivation, personal conflicts, writing blocks, or a full-blown case of a burnout.

A support group can help you to cope with grad school burnout, isolation, and loss of motivation.

They can also provide you with accountability, so that you stay focused and follow through on your commitments.

For many students the best part about being part of a community is they get the opportunity to support other students who are going through the same challenges that they faced in the past.

While members of your support group might not be within your technical field, just knowing that there are people who are there to listen and provide you with insights, can help you regain your focus and stay on track, even you are experiencing loss of motivation or a burnout.

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Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement

Sergio edú-valsania.

1 Department of Social Sciences, Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes (UEMC), C/Padre Julio Chevalier, 2, 47012 Valladolid, Spain; se.cmeu@udes

Ana Laguía

2 Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), C/Juan del Rosal 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain; se.denu.isp@onairomaj

Juan A. Moriano

A growing body of empirical evidence shows that occupational health is now more relevant than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This review focuses on burnout, an occupational phenomenon that results from chronic stress in the workplace. After analyzing how burnout occurs and its different dimensions, the following aspects are discussed: (1) Description of the factors that can trigger burnout and the individual factors that have been proposed to modulate it, (2) identification of the effects that burnout generates at both individual and organizational levels, (3) presentation of the main actions that can be used to prevent and/or reduce burnout, and (4) recapitulation of the main tools that have been developed so far to measure burnout, both from a generic perspective or applied to specific occupations. Furthermore, this review summarizes the main contributions of the papers that comprise the Special Issue on “Occupational Stress and Health: Psychological Burden and Burnout”, which represent an advance in the theoretical and practical understanding of burnout.

1. Introduction

When work and professional environments are not well organized and managed, they can have adverse consequences for workers that, far from dignifying them, exhaust them and consume their psychological resources. Burnout has become one of the most important psychosocial occupational hazards in today’s society, generating significant costs for both individuals and organizations [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Although burnout was initially considered to be specific to professionals working in the care of people [ 5 ], later evidence has shown that this syndrome can develop among all types of professions and occupational groups [ 6 , 7 ]. However, burnout prevalence estimates vary considerably according to the burnout definition applied. For instance, a national study of US general surgery residents found estimates varied from 3.2% to 91.4%, with 43.2% of respondents acknowledging weekly symptoms [ 8 ].

The enormous negative impact that burnout has on the work and personal lives of workers, also affecting the economy and public health of the most affected countries, has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to include this syndrome in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a phenomenon exclusive to the occupational context. Likewise, the need to address burnout is also justified for legal reasons, such as compliance with the European Union Framework Directive on Health and Safety (89/391/EEC).

A growing body of empirical evidence shows that occupational health is now more relevant than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, the pandemic has placed considerable psychological strain on healthcare workers. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, numerous studies related to burnout have been carried out with samples of frontline healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, or pharmacists across the world [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. However, the lack of a baseline level of burnout before the pandemic makes it difficult to compare changes in prevalence for the same populations. Evidence from studies of the impact of past outbreaks (e.g., SARS, influenza, or Ebola epidemics) show long-term cognitive and mental health effects (e.g., emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder) [ 13 ]. This evidence can be useful to design interventions for healthcare workers. These are also hard times for workers in general. Teleworking full-time due to COVID-19 has received the attention of several empirical works, which analyze job exhaustion and burnout [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Teacher burnout is also the focus of an increasing number of studies [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Additionally, working parents may experience high levels of stress in the home environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to parental burnout [ 22 , 23 ].

This review aims to understand what burnout is and its different components, how it occurs, to identify the factors that trigger burnout and the individual factors that modulate it, to identify the effects that burnout generates at both individual and organizational levels, to understand which are the main actions that can be used to prevent and/or reduce burnout, and to present the main tools that currently exist to measure burnout.

2. Burnout: Definition and Development of This Construct

Overall, burnout syndrome is an individual response to chronic work stress that develops progressively and can eventually become chronic, causing health alterations [ 24 ]. From a psychological point of view, this syndrome causes damage at a cognitive, emotional, and attitudinal level, which translates into negative behavior towards work, peers, users, and the professional role itself [ 25 ]. However, it is not a personal problem, but a consequence of certain characteristics of the work activity [ 26 ].

Historically, Graham Greene was the first author to use the term burnout in his novel “A Burnt-Out Case” when describing the story of an architect who found neither meaning in his profession nor pleasure in life. Later, the term was picked up and introduced in the psychological sphere by Freudenberger [ 27 ], where he described burnout as a state of exhaustion, fatigue, and frustration due to a professional activity that fails to produce the expected expectations. Initially, this author delimited it as something exclusively related to volunteer workers in a care center where all kinds of people with mental disorders and social problems attended. Because of their occupation, these workers experienced in crescendo a loss of energy to the point of exhaustion and demotivation, as well as aggressiveness towards the service users.

Shortly thereafter, Maslach [ 28 ] introduced burnout into the scientific literature and defined it as a gradual process of fatigue, cynicism, and reduced commitment among social care professionals. Years later and after several empirical studies, Maslach and Jackson [ 5 ] reformulated the concept and elaborated a more rigorous and operational definition of burnout as a psychological syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a reduced sense of professional efficacy that can appear in caregivers ( Table 1 ). The turning point between the two definitions is the consideration of burnout as a syndrome, with a syndrome being understood as a picture or set of symptoms and signs that exist at the same time and clinically define a particular state distinct from others.

Burnout dimensions.

However, some authors have argued that these three dimensions are not completely independent. Thus, it is possible to find several explanations in the literature. The difference between them lies in which is the first dimension that appears in the face of job stress (emotional exhaustion or depersonalization). Although definitive evidence has not yet been obtained, longitudinal studies have shown that there is a causal order between the key dimensions of burnout. Thus, high levels of emotional exhaustion lead to high levels of cynicism or depersonalization [ 29 ]. Likewise, empirical studies indicate that exhaustion and depersonalization constitute the core or key dimensions of the syndrome of being burned out at work, while lack of professional fulfillment is considered as an antecedent of burnout or even a consequence [ 30 ].

Finally, although Maslach and Jackson’s [ 5 ] conceptualization of burnout remains the most widely accepted, other definitions or formulations are found in the scientific literature. For example, Salanova et al. [ 31 ] reformulate such approaches and propose an extended model of burnout composed of: (1) exhaustion (related to crises in the relationship between the person and work in general), (2) mental distance that includes both cynicism (distant attitudes towards work in general) and depersonalization (distant attitudes towards the people for and with whom one works) and (3) professional inefficacy (feeling of not doing tasks adequately and being incompetent at work).

2.1. Subtypes of Burnout

As an alternative to the unitary definition of burnout, Montero-Marín [ 24 ] proposes that this syndrome does not always develop in the same way and that, on the contrary, there can be three variations that depend on the dedication of workers to their work activity ( Figure 1 ). These subtypes could also be understood as stages in which there is a progressive deterioration in the levels of worker commitment to their job and have repercussions when choosing the intervention to be applied [ 32 ]. From this theoretical perspective, burnout is considered a developing condition, with a progressive reduction in levels of engagement, and evolves from enthusiasm to apathy [ 24 ]. Burnout is proposed to typically appear with the excessive involvement characteristic of the frenetic subtype. Since it is not easy to maintain this level of activity without becoming exhausted, the worker may adopt a certain protective distance. This distancing may relieve workers from overactivity, but at the cost of the frustration that emerges in the under-challenged subtype. In the long run, this leads to a reduced perception of efficacy, giving way to passive coping strategies, typically present in the worn-out subtype. The parallelism between the evolution of the syndrome and the different subtypes raises the possibility of implementing new lines of therapeutic intervention on burnout by understanding the subtypes as a succession of stages in the development of the syndrome [ 24 ]. Indeed, empirical studies suggest a progressive deterioration from the frenetic to the under-challenged and worn-out [ 33 ]. Nevertheless, more longitudinal studies are still needed to clarify the transition from one subtype to another and the evolution of the syndrome.

Profiles and subtypes of burnout.

The frenetic subtype is typical of work contexts with overload and workers who work intensely until exhaustion. It also tends to be more frequent in jobs with split shifts, temporary contracts and, in general, situations that force workers to be much more involved to keep the job. It is the subtype of burnout in which workers show greater dedication to work. At the motivational level, these workers show high involvement and need to obtain important achievements and it has been related to a coping style based on the attempt to solve problems actively, for which they use a high number of working hours per week or are involved in different jobs at the same time. For all these reasons, this profile is associated with high levels of burnout and a feeling of abandonment of personal life and health at work.

The under-challenged subtype is typical of monotonous and unstimulating professions, with repetitive, mechanical, and routine tasks that do not provide the necessary satisfaction to workers, who state that the work is not rewarding and is monotonous. Consequently, workers show indifference, boredom, and lack of personal development along with a desire to change jobs. This subtype of burnout is related to high levels of cynicism, due to a lack of identification with work tasks, and is associated with an escapist coping style, based on distraction or cognitive avoidance.

The worn-out subtype is characterized mainly by feelings of hopelessness and a sense of lack of control over the results of their work and recognition of the efforts invested, so that they finally opt for neglect and abandonment as a response to any difficulty. It is, therefore, the profile in which the worker shows less dedication. Thus, this type of profile is strongly associated with the perception of inefficiency and a passive style of coping with stress, based mainly on behavioral disconnection, which generates a strong sense of incompetence and makes them experience feelings of guilt.

2.2. Why Does Burnout Appear and How Does It Develop?

Since the appearance of the term in the scientific literature, several approaches have emerged that have attempted to answer the question of why burnout appears and how it develops. In this section, we will focus on detailing the most current and empirically supported explanatory theories of burnout considering that, instead of being antagonistic to each other, they are complementary and provide a more global view of this syndrome. Specifically, the following theories are summarized: (1) social cognitive theory; (2) social exchange theory; (3) organizational theory; (4) structural theory; (5) job demands–resources theory; (6) emotional contagion theory.

2.2.1. Social Cognitive Theory

This approach is characterized by giving a central role to individual variables such as self-efficacy, self-confidence and self-concept in the development and evolution of burnout [ 34 , 35 ]. So, this syndrome is triggered when the worker harbors doubts about their own effectiveness, or that of their group, in achieving professional goals [ 36 , 37 ]. These approaches were corroborated in a study conducted in a Spanish context with 274 secondary school teachers showing that burnout occurred after the emergence of professional efficacy crises [ 36 ].

The circumstances facilitate the development of inefficacy expectations or efficacy crises are the following [ 38 ]: (1) negative experiences of failure in the past, (2) lack of reference models who have gone through a similar experience and have overcome it, (3) lack of external reinforcement for the work, (4) lack of feedback on the work completed or excessive negative criticism, and (5) difficulties at work. In this way, crises of effectiveness would lead to low professional fulfillment which, if maintained over time, would generate emotional exhaustion and then cynicism/depersonalization as a way of coping with stress ( Figure 2 ).

Development of burnout according to the socio-cognitive theory of the self-efficacy.

2.2.2. Social Exchange Theory

This theory considers that burnout occurs when the worker perceives a lack of equity between the efforts and contributions made and the results obtained in their work [ 39 ]. This lack of reciprocity, which can occur with service users, colleagues, supervisors, and organizations, consumes the emotional resources of professionals, generating an emotional exhaustion that becomes chronic. From this approach, burnout can be triggered by the significant interpersonal demands involved in dealing with clients/users that become emotionally consuming. Thus, to avoid contact with the original source of discomfort, depersonalization or cynicism is used as a stress coping strategy, which ultimately leads to low personal fulfillment ( Figure 3 ).

Development of burnout according to social exchange theory.

2.2.3. Organizational Theory

This approach considers that burnout is a consequence of organizational and work stressors (see Section 3.1 ) combined with inadequate individual coping strategies [ 40 , 41 ]. Within this theory, there are two alternative models to explain the relationships between the dimensions of burnout. According to Golembiewski et al. [ 41 ], burnout starts because of the existence of organizational stressors or risk factors, such as work overload or role ambiguity, and before which some individuals show as a coping strategy a decrease in their organizational commitment, which is very similar to cynicism and depersonalization. Subsequently, the person will experience low personal fulfillment at work and emotional exhaustion, which triggers burnout syndrome. Thus, depersonalization would be the first phase of burnout, followed by a feeling of low self-fulfillment and, finally, emotional exhaustion. The alternative proposal is that put forward by Cox et al. [ 40 ]. For these authors, the emotional exhaustion caused by enduring work stressors is the initial dimension of this syndrome. Depersonalization is considered a coping strategy in the face of emotional exhaustion and low personal fulfillment is the result.

2.2.4. Demands–Resources Theory

This approach postulates that burnout occurs when there is an imbalance between the demands and resources derived from work [ 42 ]. Job demands are those job factors that require sustained physical or mental effort and are associated with certain physiological costs due to activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and psychological costs (e.g., subjective fatigue, reduced focus of attention, and redefinition of task requirements). Common work demands include work overload, emotional labor, time pressure, or interpersonal conflicts. When recovery in the face of such demands is insufficient or inadequate, a state of physical and mental exhaustion is triggered.

Work resources, on the other hand, refer to the physical, psychological, organizational, or social aspects of work that can reduce the demands of work and the associated physiological and psychological costs and that can be decisive in achieving work objectives. Resources at work can be organizational in nature, but also personal ( Table 2 ). When demands exceed resources, fatigue occurs; if this imbalance is maintained over time, fatigue becomes chronic and, finally, burnout appears. Therefore, job demands have a direct and positive relationship with burnout, especially emotional exhaustion, while the existence of job resources inversely influences depersonalization by minimizing or reducing its use as a coping strategy.

Summary of main demands and job resources.

2.2.5. Structural Theory

This approach maintains that burnout is a response to chronic job stress that appears when the coping strategies employed by the individual to manage job stressors fail. Initially, work stress will elicit a series of coping strategies. When the coping strategies initially employed are not successful, they lead to professional failure and to the development of feelings of low personal fulfillment at work and emotional exhaustion. Faced with these feelings, the subject develops depersonalization attitudes as a new form of coping. (The sequence is illustrated in Figure 4 .) In turn, burnout will have adverse consequences both for the health of individuals and for organizations. This model has been empirically contrasted with different professional groups such as teachers or nurses [ 43 ].

Development of burnout according to structural theory.

2.2.6. Theory of Emotional Contagion

Emotional contagion refers to the tendency to automatically imitate and synchronize facial expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with those of other people and, consequently, to converge emotionally with them [ 44 ]. When people work together, it is common for them to share situations and experience collective emotions, such as sadness, fear, or exhaustion. Therefore, from this theory it is considered that burnout occurs in work groups, since there are shared beliefs and emotions that are developed throughout social interaction [ 38 ]. This burnout contagion has been evidenced especially in teaching and health personnel [ 45 ], as well as between spouses (outside work). Thus, emotional contagion influences the development of burnout both inside and outside the workplace [ 26 , 46 ].

3. What Circumstances Trigger Burnout?

The antecedents are those aspects that are going to propitiate, trigger, and/or maintain people suffering from burnout syndrome. In general, these aspects can be classified into two broad categories: (1) organizational factors such as, for example, the workload or the emotional demands involved, and (2) individual factors such as, for example, the worker’s personality or coping strategies. It is important to emphasize that this syndrome is primarily a consequence of exposure to certain working conditions and not an individual characteristic such as a personality trait. Strictly speaking, therefore, the triggers of burnout would be factors related to the work (be it content, structure or relationships with users, clients, bosses, and/or colleagues). However, it is considered that, although organizational factors are capable per se of generating burnout, certain individual factors would act as moderating variables. Thus, personal aspects such as, for example, a lack of self-confidence or the use of stress-avoidance coping mechanisms could play a role in enhancing situational factors. On the other hand, other individual characteristics, such as optimism or active coping, can lessen or even slow down the negative effect of organizational factors on burnout and its consequences.

3.1. Organizational Factors

Regarding situational factors, reviews of the scientific literature [ 47 ] show that, in general, both the type of tasks, the way they are organized and the relationships between colleagues, bosses, and/or clients are potential burnout triggers or risk factors.

3.1.1. Work Overload

Workload, both quantitative and qualitative, when excessive, requires sustained effort, generating physiological and psychological costs. Such symptoms can trigger the experience of burnout and psychological distancing from work as a self-defense mechanism [ 48 ].

3.1.2. Emotional Labor

Emotional labor is understood as the psychological process necessary to self-regulate one’s emotions and show those emotions desired by the organization. It involves controlling or hiding negative emotions such as anger, irritation or discomfort to comply with the rules or requirements of the organization and objectives of the job, as well as the display of emotions not felt, such as sympathy towards customers or users, although the opposite is really felt, or tranquility in situations in which what is really felt is fear. Emotional labor will therefore involve a greater workload. In this sense, several studies have shown positive relationships between emotional labor and burnout in different professions, such as teachers [ 49 ] and HR department workers [ 50 ].

3.1.3. Lack of Autonomy and Influence at Work

Lack of freedom at work when performing tasks, as well as the inability to influence decisions that affect work has been positively associated with higher levels of burnout. Conversely, when workers experience autonomy and control over their work, there are lower rates of burnout and higher rates of professional fulfillment [ 48 ]. In this line, several investigations have found negative relationships between burnout and empowerment, so that the greater the empowerment perceived by workers, the lower the levels of burnout experienced [ 51 , 52 ].

3.1.4. Ambiguity and Role Conflict

When the worker does not know what is expected of them and/or does not have enough information about their mission (role ambiguity) or in their case the different tasks and demands to be fulfilled are incongruent or incompatible with each other (role conflict), burnout levels are increased [ 53 ].

3.1.5. Inadequate Supervision and Perception of Injustice

The perception of inadequate supervision (e.g., excessively directive, and unfair by only focusing on the negative aspects without valuing achievements and efforts, or at the other extreme not at all directive or non-existent) increases the risk of developing burnout. On the contrary, a fair treatment with employees favors the increase in available resources, exerting a negative effect on emotional exhaustion in such a way that workers are less likely to develop burnout symptomatology [ 54 ].

3.1.6. Lack of Perceived Social Support

Lack of social support at work, either from co-workers or supervisors, as well as internal conflicts between co-workers are considered important triggers of burnout. On the contrary, social support has been found to act as a brake on this syndrome [ 55 ].

3.1.7. Poor Working Hours

The working hours conditions that make it difficult to reconcile family and professional life are another important trigger of burnout. For instance, shift work, high rotations, night work, long working hours, or a large amount of overtime are powerful triggers of burnout. Additionally, such hourly characteristics are positively related to sleep disorders, heart problems, health complaints, job dissatisfaction, decreased attention and performance, as well as an increased risk of accidents [ 48 ].

3.2. Individual Factors Modulating Burnout

Regarding individual factors, both personality traits and sociodemographic variables and coping strategies have been analyzed as predisposing or facilitating the development of burnout in the case of the presence of some of the organizational factors explained above. Table 3 summarizes these factors and their modulating effect on burnout: positive (they amplify the effect of social factors) or negative (they reduce the effect of social factors).

Individual burnout modulators.

Personality influences how people perceive their work environment and, therefore, how they manage and cope with work demands and resources. Several studies [ 56 , 57 , 58 ] conclude that the personality traits posited in the Big Five model (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience; [ 59 ]) are significantly but differentially associated with burnout. Thus, it has been found that there is a negative correlation between extraversion and the components of burnout. Thus, extraversion will be a protective factor against burnout. As for neuroticism or emotional instability, positive correlations have been found with burnout. Therefore, people with less emotional stability will be more likely to suffer from burnout. Agreeableness is another personality factor that has shown a protective effect on burnout, so that more-agreeable workers tend to experience less burnout than their less-agreeable colleagues. Likewise, conscientiousness, or the tendency to behave responsibly and persistently, reduces the likelihood of burnout. Finally, openness to experience that represents aspects related to breadth of interests and creativity also has protective effects on burnout as it is positively associated with professional efficacy and negatively associated with depersonalization.

Other individual characteristics that influence the development of burnout are the external locus of control, the type A behavior pattern and having high expectations. Locus of control [ 60 ] refers to the degree to which people believe they have control over events and their lives (internal locus of control) and the degree to which they believe that events occur due to external causes such as chance or the decisions of others (external locus of control). The greater the external locus of control, the greater the probability of developing burnout, especially in ambiguous or novel situations, in which the persons believe they have little or no possibility of controllability. Type A behavior pattern is characterized by competitiveness, impulsivity, impatience, and aggressiveness, and has been widely implicated as a health risk factor. This behavior pattern is positively related to the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization factors of burnout. Finally, the expectations that employees have regarding their work are related to the level of burnout, such that higher expectations and higher goal setting lead to greater efforts and thus higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization [ 47 , 48 ]. The person’s level of involvement also seems to be important. Specifically, over-involvement has also been proposed as a potent trigger, especially when it may be impossible to achieve goals. This mismatch between expectations and realities can lead to frustration and burnout in workers.

In terms of sociodemographic variables, reviews of studies [ 47 , 48 ] point to an inverse relationship between age and burnout, such that people will experience lower levels of burnout as their age increases. However, the results are not always so consistent. A systematic review of the determinants of burnout [ 61 ] found a significant relationship between increasing age and increased risk of depersonalization, although on the other hand there is also a greater sense of personal accomplishment. Regarding gender, most studies indicate that emotional exhaustion and low professional fulfillment tend to be more common among women while depersonalization is more frequent in men. In relation to marital status, workers who are single (especially men) seem to be more exposed to burnout compared to those who live with a partner. However, such findings seem to be more appropriate in men, as in the case of working women, it constitutes an additional risk factor since working women are usually responsible for household chores and, therefore, this may pose a difficulty in reconciling personal and professional life.

Coping strategies are another variable that play an important role in the development of burnout [ 62 , 63 ]. Although there are several classifications of coping strategies, the most established one is the distinction between problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping [ 64 ]. Problem-focused coping represents an attempt to act directly on the stressful situation, whereas emotion-focused coping focuses on modifying negative emotional responses to stressful events, avoiding intervening on them. Empirical evidence suggests that, in general, avoidance and emotion-focused coping are positively related to burnout, that is, they favor it, whereas active and problem-focused coping are negatively related to burnout, that is, they reduce it. However, not all emotion-focused coping strategies increase burnout, as social support-seeking, reappraisal, and religious support, in some cases, have protective effects on burnout [ 55 ]. On the other hand, it has also been proposed that the effectiveness of problem-focused coping may depend on the control that individuals can exert over potential stressors in the work environment. Specifically, the use of problem-focused active coping strategies when there is little possibility of controlling and/or changing environmental stressors may exacerbate the undesirable effects of work stress; in such situations it is more advisable to employ coping strategies to facilitate adaptation to the situation. Therefore, one cannot be blunt in concluding that emotion-focused coping strategies are always negative since problem-focused coping only seems adaptive in controllable situations, while avoidance-oriented coping is adaptive in situations that are difficult to control [ 65 ].

3.3. Future Research

This section has focused on summarizing the main triggers of burnout. However, since burnout symptoms develop and evolve differently depending on individual characteristics (e.g., personality or coping strategies) and the work environment (e.g., job demands or leadership styles), it is necessary to continue advancing the knowledge of which are the personal factors that in combination with certain contextual triggers produce greater or lesser symptomatology. For example, when faced with the same stressor, do all personality types experience the same symptoms and consequences? Which personalities are more vulnerable to developing burnout when faced with specific triggers? Which are the most potentially harmful combinations of individual characteristics and contextual triggers? And which are the least? From a temporal perspective, it would also be necessary to carry out more longitudinal studies to study the evolution of symptomatology.

Finally, and because of the increase in home working during the COVID-19 pandemic, it would also be interesting to examine whether teleworking may cause a greater or lesser occurrence of this symptomatology, compared to face-to-face work, as well as to examine possible differences depending on the sector of activity.

4. Consequences of Burnout

Burnout results in a series of adverse consequences both for the individuals who suffer from it and for the organizations in which these professionals work. These consequences are initially of a psychological nature, but maintained over time, they translate into adverse effects on the physical/biological health and behaviors of workers, which in turn will have undesirable organizational consequences [ 66 ].

4.1. Psychological Consequences

The psychological alterations generated by the syndrome of being burned out at work occur at both cognitive and emotional levels. Different studies have associated this syndrome with concentration and memory problems, difficulty in making decisions, reduced coping capacity, anxiety, depression, dissatisfaction with life, low self-esteem, insomnia, irritability and increased alcohol and tobacco consumption [ 66 , 67 ]. Other researchers have also shown that this syndrome can pose a significant risk of suicide [ 68 ].

4.2. Health Consequences

Several reviews of studies conclude that employees with higher levels of burnout are more likely to suffer from a variety of physical health problems such as musculoskeletal pain, gastric alterations, cardiovascular disorders, headaches, increased vulnerability to infections, as well as insomnia and chronic fatigue [ 69 ]. Burnout has also been found to dangerously increase blood cortisol levels [ 70 ] and constitutes an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes [ 71 ]. Now, the way these symptoms manifest themselves is not the same in all individuals, nor do they all have to occur.

4.3. Behavioral Consequences

In addition to physical and psychological health problems, in general, burnout is also directly related to job dissatisfaction [ 72 ], low organizational commitment [ 66 ], increased absenteeism [ 73 ], turnover intention [ 74 ], and reductions in performance [ 47 ]. On the other hand, some employees with burnout syndrome may justifiably leave their job; however, others decide to remain working [ 75 ]. This may lead to work presenteeism (i.e., individuals go to work, although they do not really fulfill their responsibilities due to health issues). In addition, burnout can lead to deviant and counterproductive behaviors in workers, aggressiveness among colleagues and towards users, alcohol and psychotropic drug use, misuse of corporate material, or even theft [ 68 , 69 , 75 , 76 ].

However, the form and evolution of these individual consequences (psychological, health, and behavioral) is not the same in all cases. In this sense, and although it is not always easy to delimit them, four levels of burnout syndrome have been described [ 77 ]:

• Mild: those affected have mild, unspecific physical symptoms (headaches, back pain, low back pain), show some fatigue, and become less operative.
• Moderate: insomnia, attention and concentration deficits appear. At this level, detachment, irritability, cynicism, fatigue, boredom, progressive loss of motivation, making the individual emotionally exhausted with feelings of frustration, incompetence, guilt, and negative self-esteem.
• Severe: increased absenteeism, task aversion and depersonalization, as well as alcohol and psychotropic drug abuse.
• Extreme: extreme behaviors of isolation, aggressiveness, existential crisis, chronic depression, and suicide attempts.

4.4. Organizational Consequences

The negative consequences experienced at the individual level by workers with burnout translate into low motivation and performance that can extend to the work unit and the organization, causing a reduction in the quality of services [ 78 ]. Likewise, employees suffering from burnout influence the rest of the organization, causing greater conflicts or interrupting work tasks, thus reducing production and increasing production times [ 67 ]. Therefore, as indicated in the emotional contagion theory, burnout can cause a “contagion effect”, generating a bad working environment [ 45 ]. This syndrome also usually generates significant economic losses as a consequence of absenteeism, loss of efficiency and counterproductive behaviors [ 76 ].

4.5. Future Research

It would be interesting to examine in depth the relationships between the psychological alterations caused by burnout and the effects on workers’ health, safety, and performance. For example, how psychological damage caused by burnout influences workers’ attitudes and behavior, and exploration of the possible modulating role of individual factors and certain organizational characteristics (i.e., leadership, organizational climate, cohesion among workers). In addition, longitudinal studies would be necessary to analyze the possible relationship between the different consequences of burnout and productivity.

5. Prevention Strategies

Now we have established what burnout is and what circumstances trigger it, in this section we will focus on how to act both to avoid and to reverse its occurrence and consequences. First, the most appropriate type of preventive intervention should be selected. Primary prevention is aimed at all workers and its purpose is to reduce or eliminate organizational risk factors to prevent the occurrence of burnout. Primary prevention is the most consistent with the principles of an occupational risk prevention management system by providing workers with adequate support, job adaptations, information, and adequate training to deal with this psychosocial risk.

Secondary prevention, on the other hand, is carried out once the first symptoms of burnout have appeared, so it is not aimed at all workers, but only at those who are already affected and its purpose in general is that such symptoms do not evolve further, improving the way in which the person responds to these stressors. These interventions are aimed more at individuals than at the organization, bringing about changes in attitudes and improving their coping resources, which does not imply that there are no organizational interventions as well. Finally, tertiary prevention focuses on employees who are already burned out at work. The aim of this type of prevention is to reduce the most severe harms (e.g., serious health problems and/or poor job performance). Since this type of intervention is aimed at trying to resolve the damage to the worker’s physical and/or psychological health, it is considered reactive and not strictly speaking prevention, but treatment.

From another perspective, we will classify the interventions considering the promoter of the intervention, that is, who organizes, decides and, if necessary, finances the actions to be carried out. In this sense, interventions can be classified as follows: (1) promoted by the organization, which in turn could be subdivided into actions directed at the organizational and job structure and actions directed at employees, and (2) promoted by individuals, which could also be subdivided into interventions directed at oneself as an individual and interventions directed at improving one’s interaction with the organization and with aspects of the job ( Table 4 ).

Summary of burnout interventions.

5.1. Organizational Interventions Aimed at Work Structure

The following is a description of interventions that generally focus on reducing work stressors and increasing the organizational resources available to workers [ 79 , 80 ].

• (1) Work redesign. This measure aims to partially change the objectives and tasks of the job while improving the quality of work by eliminating structural and/or procedural elements that interfere and generate stress [ 81 ]. It could also be considered job redesign the enrichment of jobs through the incorporation of new and more stimulating tasks that make the job more motivating and rewarding.
• (2) Modification of exposure times to potential stressors. This can be completed by reducing the time in which the worker is exposed to the most stressful elements of the job (such as, for example, attention to users or patients) through job rotation, or, if necessary, by performing other tasks or activities [ 82 , 83 ].
• Humanization of schedules and implementation of work–life balance plans. This intervention involves organizing and making work schedules and shifts more flexible to allow for the reconciliation of personal and professional life [ 84 ]. In this sense, variable work shifts and long working hours exceeding 8 h should be eliminated.
• Managers’ leadership development. Supervisor support and leadership is considered an important work resource capable of reducing burnout levels in employees. However, not all supervisors employ an adequate leadership style. In this sense, several studies have shown that authentic [ 54 ], transformational [ 85 ], and servant [ 86 ] leadership styles are related to decreased burnout and have positive effects on employees’ psychological resources [ 87 ]. For this reason, these are the leadership styles that should be developed and trained to avoid the occurrence of this syndrome. Additionally, the performance of leaders and specifically leadership behaviors should also be regularly evaluated by the individuals working with them to identify potentially adverse aspects that could trigger burnout.
• Use of rewards and incentives that are not only financial. Employees can be motivated by rewards that do not always need to be of a financial nature. Recognizing work well done is a very efficient way to increase workers’ motivation levels and prevent burnout [ 48 ]. As indicated previously, one of the factors causing efficiency crises, which in turn were triggers of burnout, was the lack of reinforcement and appraisal by supervisors. In addition to recognition of accomplishment, other types of rewards such as greater time flexibility (which can facilitate work–life balance) or protected time to achieve personally meaningful work goals can enhance well-being. In contrast, employing simple financial rewards may be less effective by encouraging overwork and pressure to achieve goals, which promote burnout.
• Development of welcoming programs. Since role conflicts and ambiguities are potential triggers of burnout, it is advisable for organizations to develop welcoming processes for new workers, where the mission of the position, tasks, and objectives to be fulfilled are explained with absolute clarity and they are progressively introduced to the most stressful elements of the job, always offering support from the supervisor or other colleagues [ 88 ].
• Burnout monitoring and design of customized plans. This consists of periodically conducting surveys and measurements of workers to “monitor” the organization’s burnout levels and compare the scores of workers according to units, location, position, supervisor, etc. (e.g., [ 89 ]). The aim is basically to identify the appearance of the first symptoms, thus preventing the syndrome from becoming chronic. It is important that, in addition to the levels of burnout, the organization identifies as precisely as possible the risk factors in the work environment that may be present to eliminate or minimize them. Additionally, since the specific way in which symptoms manifest themselves and which dimension is dominant varies in each work unit, to be effective it will be necessary to design interventions specific to the causes and consequences/symptoms identified.
• (1) Delivery of psychoeducational workshops on stress and burnout that can be scheduled in the same organization or by outsourcing the service.
• (2) Counseling services for workers with work-related problems. This action can be carried out within the organization or by outsourcing the service by referring the employee to a counseling specialist.
• (3) Referral to specialized health promotion services such as psychologists and medical specialists.

5.2. Interventions Promoted by the Organization Aimed at Employees

This type of intervention basically aims to increase the personal resources of employees to manage stressors at work, which in turn helps to reduce burnout levels.

Examples of training actions promoted by organizations to prevent burnout.

Generic phases of strengths-based interventions.

• Coaching and guidance. These are non-directive methods that encourage employees to regain control of their emotional state and well-being on their own, so the coach/counselor will not “prescribe” any treatment. Instead, the coach/counselor will guide the employee to come up with (or with some assistance) coping strategies on their own [ 93 ]. This type of intervention is usually typical of secondary prevention, in the early stages of the syndrome, when it is assumed that the person still has the capacity to redirect it.
• Creation of support groups. Peer and team support has always been critical in helping professionals cope with the difficulties and challenges of day-to-day life. This support encompasses a wide range of activities, including the celebration of achievements or the creation of formal support groups. In this sense, organizations should incorporate activities into work processes that are conducive to such a sense of community as dedicating time to share ideas and knowledge about how to act and deal with day-to-day professional challenges [ 88 ]. Support groups refer to any group of coworkers, whether formal (expressly created by the organization) or informal (not created by the organization but arising spontaneously) that meet regularly to exchange information, give each other emotional support and/or solve work problems. What these groups have in common is that they offer recognition for work completed (even if objectives have not been achieved), comfort, help, and companionship. The primary objective of the support groups is to reduce the professionals’ feelings of loneliness and emotional exhaustion, as well as the exchange of knowledge to develop effective ways of dealing with problems. This intervention (e.g., two hours every two weeks) is one of the most widely employed interventions for intervening on burnout and its benefits have been repeatedly demonstrated [ 73 ]. While the creation of support groups is an individual focus intervention, in many cases it is encouraged by the organization, or should be.

5.3. Individual-Focused Interventions Promoted by the Individual

These types of actions are initiated and determined by the workers themselves and are aimed at improving their emotional and physical state completely outside the work environment, including physical exercise, mindfulness, self-assessment and, where appropriate, psychotherapy.

• Physical exercise. Several studies have shown the positive effect of physical activity as a moderating variable of the effects of burnout on the health of workers [ 94 , 95 ]. Physical exercise can be used in primary, secondary and, where appropriate, tertiary prevention.
• Mindfulness training. A systematic review [ 96 ] of various specialized databases published between 2008 and 2017 concluded that mindfulness practice is effective in reducing burnout syndrome, both in its total values and in those corresponding to its dimensions, mitigating the negative psychosomatic and emotional effects of the syndrome, and increasing other positive ones such as empathy or concentration.
• Self-assessment. This intervention involves the self-observation of possible signs that could point to burnout. The way to do this is, for example, by keeping a diary of stress symptoms and related events such as specific symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and ways of coping with them. On the other hand, in addition to this type of diary, it is also important to measure the degree of burnout with a properly validated test, such as those indicated in the following section, and to compare one’s own score with that of a reference group or with oneself over time.
• (1) Cognitive techniques: these are aimed at the individual reevaluating and restructuring their appreciation and vision of stressful or problematic situations, so that they can deal with these situations more effectively. This type of technique is useful because people perceive situations subjectively and individually and, therefore, in a biased way. Cognitive techniques are aimed at identifying and modifying errors in the perception of reality to influence the emotions they provoke and the behavior they trigger.
• (2) Physiological deactivation techniques: the aim of this type of technique is to teach the person mechanisms to control, through relaxation, the increased physiological activation and anxiety caused by stressful stimuli.
• (3) Training in healthy lifestyle habits: physical exercise, a balanced diet, and restful sleep can help to reduce the symptoms of burnout.

5.4. Individually Driven, Work-Focused Interventions

These interventions are also initiated and determined by workers, but in this case, they are aimed at improving the work environment.

• Time management. Employees who are at risk of burnout often feel that they lack the time to fulfill all their responsibilities or that they work long hours with no time for personal use and rest. Self-management of time consists of correctly planning one’s time by making efficient use of the time available, organizing tasks realistically, and delegating them when appropriate, as well as dedicating daily time for personal activities and recreation [ 79 , 80 ]. Although this intervention is promoted by each worker, to facilitate proper time management, organizations as indicated above can or should provide training and coaching actions to their workers [ 97 ].

Types of adjustments made with job crafting.

5.5. Future Research

Evaluation research on the success or failure of intervention strategies aimed at preventing or containing burnout is stilled needed. The interventions presented in this section offer a general and broad view of how to deal with burnout. However, since this syndrome depends on and develops idiosyncratically according to personal factors as well as working conditions, future lines of research should focus on analyzing which are the most efficient interventions according to individual characteristics and situational triggers. In addition, it would be optimal to establish comparisons between different interventions aimed at both the individual and the organization level. Furthermore, it is necessary to analyze the possible interaction between interventions and whether the combination of several of them is potentiating, inhibiting, or redundant. Finally, it would also be interesting to establish longitudinal studies to detect which of these interventions are more effective in the long term.

6. Assessment and Measurement

When it comes to assessing burnout, several tools (scales and questionnaires) have been developed and validated in different countries. These tools can be classified into two broad categories: (1) generic instruments (i.e., instruments aimed at assessing the syndrome, without differentiating by professional occupations; the main difference between these instruments is the burnout theoretical model they consider and what other aspects, if any, they evaluate), and (2) specific instruments aimed at evaluating burnout in specific occupations (e.g., nurses, psychologists, physicians) or even out of job (e.g., sports, school and parental relationships). Table 8 shows the main instruments currently available for assessing burnout.

Instruments for assessing burnout.

6.1. Generic Instruments

Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; [ 5 ]). The most widely used and validated tool for measuring burnout. At first, this tool was designed exclusively to measure burnout in personnel in the care sector and was called the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). However, research and epidemiological studies showed that burnout can occur in any occupation and sector of activity, and for these reasons Schaufeli et al. [ 99 ] developed the definitive tool, the MBI-GS (Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey), based on the previous one and applicable to all occupations and jobs. This instrument has 16 items distributed in three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional fulfillment. Thus, high scores on these dimensions would be indicative of burnout. This tool has subsequently been validated in different cultural and work contexts, such as Spanish [ 6 ], Italian [ 100 ], French [ 101 ], Chinese [ 102 ], and Arabic [ 103 ], among others.

Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Burnout Syndrome (CESQT; [ 104 ]). The CESQT consists of twenty items that are grouped into four dimensions: (1) enthusiasm for work: this is defined as the individual’s desire to achieve work goals because it is a source of personal pleasure. Low scores in this dimension indicate high levels of burnout; (2) psychic burnout: this is defined as the occurrence of emotional and physical exhaustion because of work; (3) indolence or the presence of negative attitudes of indifference and cynicism towards the organization’s customers; and (4) guilt: this is defined as the appearance of feelings of guilt for the behavior and negative attitudes developed at work, especially towards people with whom work relationships are established. This instrument has two different versions: the main version (CESQT), which is applied to workers who work with people (e.g., psychologists, teachers, or doctors) and the “Professional Disenchantment” version (CESQTDP), which is administered to those workers who do not work in direct contact with people. Although this tool was originally designed in a Spanish context, throughout these years the CESQT has also had a great reception and a wide development in different countries. It has been translated, adapted and validated in Germany [ 105 ], France [ 106 ], Italy [ 107 ], Portugal [ 108 ], and Poland [ 109 ]. In Anglo-Saxon literature, the use of the CESQT is regularly cited as the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI; e.g., [ 110 , 111 ]), and alludes to the theoretical model from which it starts, highlighting that among its strengths is the fact of collecting a broader vision of burnout than other instruments by including the dimension of guilt [ 67 ]. The wide dissemination of the instrument and its quality as a psychological assessment tool has favored the American Psychological Association (APA) to include it in its database of psychological tests.

Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI; [ 112 ]). This scale allows the assessment of context-free burnout. It is composed of three main factors: (1) personal burnout, (2) work-related burnout, and (3) client-related burnout.

Oldenburg Burnout Inventory [ 113 ]. This inventory was developed to measure burnout across various occupational groups and measures two dimensions of burnout: (1) exhaustion, which is the primary symptom of burnout, and (2) disengagement from work.

Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire (BCSQ; [ 114 , 115 ]). The questionnaire consists of 36 items and measures the different properties of each clinical subtype. Each subtype consists of several facets: involvement, ambition, and overload of the frenetic type; indifference, lack of development, and boredom of the under-challenged type; and finally, neglect, lack of acknowledgement, and lack of control of the worn-out type. This questionnaire was originally developed in Spain, but recently it has been validated for other cultures such as Latvia [ 116 ] and Germany [ 117 ]. In its short version (BCSQ-12), consisting of 12 items, only one subscale of each subtype is analyzed (i.e., overload, lack of development, and neglect).

Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT; [ 118 ]). This tool is based on an alternative, comprehensive conceptualization of burnout, and includes all relevant elements that are associated with burnout. The questionnaire contains 33 items and consists of the BAT-C and BAT-S. The BAT-C assesses the four core dimensions: (1) exhaustion, (2) cognitive, (3) emotional impairment, and (4) mental distance). The BAT-S assesses two atypical secondary dimensions that often co-occur with the core symptoms: (1) psychological complaints, and (2) psychosomatic complaints.

Shirom–Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ; [ 119 ]). The instrument comprises 22 items which consists of the following sub-scales: (1) emotional exhaustion, (2) physical fatigue, (3) cognitive weariness, (4) tension, and (5) listlessness. Later development of the instrument resulted in the Shirom–Melamed Burnout Measure (SMBM; [ 120 ]), which included 14 item divided in three subscales; (1) physical fatigue, (2) emotional exhaustion, and (3) cognitive weariness.

6.2. Specific Instruments

Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS; [ 5 ]). This is a 22-item survey, applicable to human services jobs, for instance, clergy, police, therapists, social workers, medical professionals. The MBI-HSS (MP), adapted for medical personnel, and MBI-Educators Survey (MBI-ES), adapted for educators, are available online at https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi (accessed on 26 December 2022).

Brief Burnout Questionnaire Revised for nursing staff [ 121 ]. This instrument is an alternative tool to the MBI-HSS (MP). The questionnaire comprises 21 items that evaluate not only the syndrome itself, but also its antecedents and consequences. These items are gathered into four factors: (1) job dissatisfaction, comprising four items; (2) social climate, made up of three items; (3) personal impact, made up of four items, and (4) motivational exhaustion, comprising four items.

Physician Burnout Questionnaire-PhBQ [ 122 ]. This is another alternative instrument to the MBI-HSS (MP). The PhBQ contains 17 items and includes four subscales: burnout syndrome (PhBSS), antecedents (PhBAS), consequences (PhBCS), and personal resources (PPRS).

Teacher Burnout Questionnaire [ 123 ]. This questionnaire examines the burnout of teachers and is based on Maslach, Jackson and Leiter’s original instrument ([ 28 ]). The questionnaire comprises 14 items.

Psychologist’s Burnout Inventory—PBI [ 124 ]. This instrument measures four factors related to burnout among psychologist: control (three items assessing control over work activities, schedule, and decisions), overinvolvement (three items assessing feelings of responsibility for and spending time thinking about or dealing with clients), support (three items assessing emotional and instrumental support from colleagues), and negative client behaviors (six items assessing the experience of aggressive, dangerous, or threatening client behaviors). A revision of this instrument (PBI-R) was developed by Rupert et al. [ 125 ].

Athlete Burnout Questionnaire [ 126 , 127 ]. This tool is adapted to sport environments, and it is composed of 15 items organized in three dimensions: emotional/physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment and devaluation.

School Burnout Inventory-SBI [ 128 ]. This inventory comprises nine items grouped in three dimensions: (a) exhaustion at school, (b) cynicism toward the meaning of school, and (c) sense of inadequacy at school.

Parental Burnout Inventory [ 129 ]. This instrument assesses parental burnout syndrome, including exhaustion, distancing, and inefficacy.

6.3. Future Research

The main objection that could be made to the questionnaires presented above is that they are self-reported measures that focus especially on quantifying the burnout factors (emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy). However, since the burnout phenomenon is complex, more tools should be designed that consider both the antecedents and the physical and psychological consequences of burnout, thus offering a more global vision of this syndrome. As noted by Shirom [ 130 ], burnout measures should be analyzed within the framework of theoretical models that also consider causes and effects of burnout, as well as correlates. This type of instrument would, in turn, allow the development of more individualized and personalized interventions and treatments.

Moreover, different theoretical conceptualizations of burnout have led to the proliferation of a wide range of measurement instruments, usually comprising several dimensions. To what extent these instruments overlap or encompass different constructs remains to be seen. As a consequence, the burnout definition applied translates into considerably different burnout prevalence estimates in the literature. Furthermore, while some researchers use a unidimensional measure of burnout, others focus on one or more dimensions. Additionally, most instruments also lack a clinically validated threshold or cutoff values for burnout diagnosis.

Future lines of research could focus on examining the relationships between self-report measures of burnout and objective biological markers (i.e., salivary cortisol) to identify which questionnaires have the highest predictive capacity for these biomarkers. In addition, adaptation and validation of the main measurement instruments to different cultural contexts is still an ongoing need.

7. Special Issue on “Occupational Stress and Health: Psychological Burden and Burnout”

This Special Issue includes 21 papers which bring together recent developments and studies in this field. It aims to provide a comprehensive approach to occupational health from a broad range of perspectives. The results are of use for both researchers and practitioners. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted organizational contexts increasing the risk of stress and burnout. Burnout and stress are analyzed from different perspectives with a focus on specific occupational groups in diverse countries from several continents. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is investigated as well as its correlations with socio-demographic and occupational variables [ 131 ]. Gender and age differences in personal discrimination experience, burnout, and job stress among physiotherapists and occupational therapists are examined in South Korea [ 132 ]. Nurses in South Korea are further studied with respect to emotional labor, burnout, turnover intention, and medical error levels within the previous six months [ 133 ]. Healthcare workers are also the focus of another study in Japan [ 134 ], which concludes that the number of physical symptoms perceived are positively related to burnout scores. Moreover, job strain and work–family conflict are associated with an increased risk of burnout, while being married, being a parent, and job support are associated with a decreased risk of burnout. In Spain, the relationship between burnout, compassion fatigue, and psychological flexibility is analyzed in geriatric nurses [ 135 ] as well as the prevalence of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and possible non-psychotic psychiatric disorders in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 136 ]. In Germany [ 137 ], teachers and social workers are surveyed following a model derived from the Job Demands–Resources theory to predict effects of strains on burnout, job satisfaction, general state of health, and life satisfaction. While some professionals working in the educational sector are burned out, other develop resilience, and thus it is important to identify antecedents and profiles (e.g., support), as evidenced by another study carried out in Spain [ 138 ]. Burnout and job satisfaction are additionally examined in a sample of music therapists in Spain [ 139 ]; a higher risk of burnout is associated with working longer hours in a palliative care setting.

Although a variety of instruments have been developed and validated in different contexts, new reliable and more specific tools are timely and highly valuable to better operationalize and understand job burnout. In this line, a new scale to gauge the balance between risks and resources ( Balance ) is developed in three French-speaking countries and then longitudinally tested in several English-speaking countries [ 140 ]. Another instrument is developed to evaluate job resources and further explore the relationship between resources and psychological detachment [ 141 ]. To assess the added value of a joint use of two tools, Leclercq et al. [ 142 ] compare the diagnostic accuracy of a structured interview guide and a self-reported questionnaire, finding differences in sensitivity and specificity with implications in diagnosis and treatment. A systematic review analyses both subjective and objective measurement methods to study fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep behavior in seafarers [ 143 ]. Related to new ways to measure and study stress, the “Study on Emergency physicians’ responses Evaluated by Karasek questionnaire” (SEEK) Protocol [ 144 ] presents the design of a study protocol to examine well-being in emergency healthcare workers in order to assess and determine Karasek scores in a large sample size of emergency healthcare workers and evaluate whether there is a change in work perception (both in the short and the long term). Additionally, this protocol will allow us to explore Karasek’s associations with some biomarkers of stress and protective factors.

The identification of mediators is another promising line of research. Mérida-López et al. [ 145 ] explore in a sample of pre-service teachers in Spain the mediator role of study engagement in the relationship between self- and other-focused emotion regulation abilities and occupational commitment. A moderated-mediation model is used in China to examine the effect of perceived overqualification on emotional exhaustion, the mediating role of emotional exhaustion in the relationship between perceived overqualification and creativity, and the moderating role of pay for performance in the perceived overqualification–emotional exhaustion relationship. Occupational stressors are studied in China as mediators in the psychological capital–family satisfaction link [ 146 ]. In Brazil, the moderating role of recovery from work stress is explored in the relationship between flexibility ideals and patterns of sustainable well-being at telework [ 147 ].

Last, a growing avenue of research is devoted to leadership. Leaders’ behaviors have important consequences for both employees and organizations. In this Special Issue, ethical leadership is investigated in South Korea with respect to emotional labor and emotional exhaustion [ 148 ]. Identity leadership, team identification, and employee burnout are examined in 28 countries within the Global Identity Leadership Development (GILD) project [ 149 ]. Security-providing leadership is proposed to be a job resource to prevent employee burnout [ 150 ].

8. Conclusions

In this review, we have analyzed what burnout is, what are its main dimensions, what models have been proposed for the description and explanation of this syndrome, what are its antecedents and consequences, what tools allow its evaluation and how it can be intervened both at the organizational and individual level. We also present our critical vision, indicating how each specific aspect should be studied today, the future lines of research on burnout, and what the future lines of intervention in organizations should be. The most recent research published in the Special Issue on “Occupational Stress and Health: Psychological Burden and Burnout”, 21 papers, is summarized according to main areas.

There is no doubt that burnout is currently a growing concern for individuals, organizations, and society. For example, among physicians, this syndrome has reached epidemic proportions around the world, accompanied by alarming levels of depression and suicidal ideation [ 151 ]. Thus, people suffering from burnout report feeling exhausted throughout the day, and not only during their working day. In fact, just thinking about work before getting up in the morning leaves them exhausted.

Work environments with excessive work schedules and high levels of demands, as well as the need to prove that one is worthy of a certain position, leave workers emotionally drained, cynical about work, and with a low sense of personal accomplishment. Moreover, the pressure does not end with the end of the workday; new technologies, mobile devices and the lack of boundaries prevent disconnection and the necessary recovery from work.

However, burnout is not an inevitable syndrome; it can be prevented before it appears and treated during its development. Nonetheless, interventions often focus on individuals rather than organizations, even though the main causes of this syndrome are organizational factors such as work overload or role ambiguity. As Shanafelt and Noseworthy [ 88 ] point out, organizations should regularly assess the well-being of their workers, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and consider it a key performance indicator. In fact, it is likely that the relationship between burnout and job performance is underestimated because burned-out workers adopt “performance protection” strategies to maintain priority tasks and neglect low-priority secondary tasks such as, for example, dealing kindly with customers, clients, or patients [ 152 ]. In this way, evidence of the syndrome is masked until critical points are reached.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, S.E.-V. and J.A.M.; writing—original draft preparation, S.E.-V., J.A.M. and A.L.; writing—review and editing, A.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

5 Steps for Recovering from Writing Burnout

by Lewis / November 23, 2021 / Inspiration , NaNoWriMo

Writer’s block is a major issue in the writing world…

However, it’s far from the only one. Alongside writer’s block, there’s another, even more dangerous ailment that can grind your writing journey to a halt for months at a time—and that is writer’s burnout.

Distinct from writer’s block, writer’s burnout is a deeper problem, one wrapped up in feelings of shame, guilt, or an intense need to be “productive.” And, while it’s particularly prevalent during NaNoWriMo and the New Year, it’s still something you can struggle with at any time. So, whether you’re taking part in an intense writing challenge or just trying to get a handle on your writing routine, let me help you confront this writer’s burnout head on!

What Causes Writer’s Burnout?

• 1 What Causes Writer’s Burnout?
• 2 The Danger of Writer’s Burnout
• 3.1 #1 – Stop What You’re Doing:
• 3.2 #2 – Find an Outlet:
• 3.3 #3 – Rest and Reflect:
• 3.4 #4 – Clarify Your Goals:
• 3.5 #5 – Get Back to Writing:
• 4.1 Spruce up Your Outline:
• 4.2 Schedule a Brainstorming Day:
• 4.3 Read, Read, Read:
• 4.4 Write About Something Else:
• 5 Finding Balance in Your Writing Life

“Exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.”

For writers, this can manifest in a variety of ways. Some writers find themselves exhausted at the end of a writing session, or never work up the energy to write to begin with. Others struggle to take a break from their novels, consumed by the pressure to be productive. Personally, burnout makes me feel depressed just thinking about my story. The shame that I’m not writing fast enough or that the words aren’t flowing as easily as they should quickly saps the fun out of my writing.

All of these feelings are a sign that you’re suffering from writer’s burnout—and they can strike at any time of year. Often, we think of burnout as being an issue unique to challenges like National Novel Writing Month , but writer’s burnout can happen for a variety of reasons:

• Excess stress in your daily life
• Unattainable writing goals
• Perfectionism
• Poor physical health, such as a lack of sleep
• Intense pressure to be productive or successful

Of course, writer’s burnout is not the same as writer’s block.

While writer’s block is the feeling of not knowing what to write next, writer’s burnout is when you have no creative energy left to give. You’ve worked too hard, draining your mental reserves until you’re effectively running on fumes.

This is important, because writer’s block and writer’s burnout are handled in two different ways. To overcome these hurdles, you first need to know what you’re dealing with!

NOTE: Looking for advice on overcoming writer’s block? Check out this article for more!

The Danger of Writer’s Burnout

With that said, you might be thinking: “I’ll just push past my writing burnout! If I can do that, everything will be fine.”

Unfortunately, I have bad news. Writer’s burnout is a difficult problem to handle, because it can’t be solved by brute force alone. Since excess stress and pressure cause burnout, putting even more strain on your creative brain will only make things worse.

This results in a whole slew of issues:

• Burnout makes it harder to reach your writing goals,
• It prevents you from enjoying the writing process,
• It causes the quality of your writing to suffer,
• And it can add even more stress to your daily life.

Basically, if writer’s burnout continues untreated for too long, it could easily put you off writing for years. This is why beating your head against the wall in an attempt to force your way forward is not an effective strategy—and why many writers get trapped in a cycle of burnout for months.

Fortunately, there are ways to recover from writing burnout. The key is learning to give yourself space, recharge your muse, and create a bit more balance in your writing life. Let me walk you through five steps that should be able to help…

5 Steps for Overcoming Writer’s Burnout

#1 – stop what you’re doing:.

A good way to think about burnout is in terms of a car. If that car gets stuck in the mud, no amount of revving the engine will help. The wheels will simply spin in place until eventually the engine overheats and dies. Writer’s burnout works in much the same way—meaning your first order of business is to turn off the car.

Give yourself a break, completely guilt-free. Watch a sappy TV show, or spend an afternoon baking a tasty treat. Go on a long walk with a dear friend, or pick up that video game you’ve been eyeing for months. Whatever this break looks like to you, it should be a chance to indulge in something you enjoy without the pressure of writing hanging over you.

Of course, all breaks need a limit.

Rather than taking a break that stretches forever, pick a date when you’ll return to your novel. This could be a single week, or an entire month, depending on what you need. Regardless of how long your break is, make sure you stick to your return date. This way, you can enjoy your break, safe knowing that you’ll return to your novel in due time.

#2 – Find an Outlet:

All people are creative in their own way, and that creativity needs an outlet. Because of this, you don’t want to spend your entire break doing nothing but vegging out and watching TV—even if that’s the guilty pleasure you chose in Step #1!

Instead, pick a project as your creative outlet.

This could be drawing, building a birdhouse, organizing your junk drawer, or anything that will keep your hands and mind busy . While you can and should make time to relax, setting aside an afternoon to do something more active will help you feel positive, fulfilled, and less stressed about putting your writing on pause.

Again, the goal here is to achieve a balance, both in your writing and normal life! Productivity doesn’t have to mean pulling all-nighters and driving yourself to exhaustion, and this is a good way to prove that. 🙂

#3 – Rest and Reflect:

Burnout is tightly linked with feelings of shame, guilt, and frustration. Maybe you feel like your writing isn’t good enough, or that you need to prove you’re a “real writer.” Perhaps getting stuck on your story made you question whether your novel was worth writing , or maybe you got overwhelmed comparing yourself to other authors.

Whatever your personal hurdles are, you need to face them.

As hard as this may be, the best way to overcome these kinds of mental blocks is to address them head on. Ask yourself:

• Why are you frustrated with your story?
• Do you feel any shame or guilt about your writing?
• Are you trying to live up to an ideal of what a writer should be?
• What do you really want to achieve in your writing life, and why?

I know these kinds of questions are stressful to ask, but they’re also important. If you want to recover from your writing burnout, you’ll need to take time to sit with these thoughts, consider them, and then move forward, all without judgement or pressure.

#4 – Clarify Your Goals:

Once you understand why you’re burnt out, it’s time to make a plan for the future. To do this, start by writing down your current writing goals:

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• Why is that goal important to you?

From there, consider what your new plan will be:

• What is a realistic goal, one that will give you time to rest when needed?
• How will you incorporate that goal into your writing life?
• Does that goal respect the responsibilities and commitments you already have?
• Is this a goal that you’ll feel proud of when you accomplish it?

As you go through this process, avoid comparing yourself to other writers as much as possible. It’s easy to get trapped by a constant need to match up to other authors you admire, but this is rarely productive. We’re all individuals, and thus we’ll all go through our writing journeys at our own pace.

Rather than force yourself into a mold that doesn’t fit, it’s better to craft a path that’s unique to your writing life.

#5 – Get Back to Writing:

Finally, after your break is over, it’s time to incorporate writing back into your routine.

The key here is taking things easy. You won’t want to immediately dive back into writing full force, or risk ending up back where you started. Instead, experiment with new writing styles, games, or techniques. Try writing sprints, pull out a few interesting prompts, and slowly work your way back up to your novel itself.

All of this will help you rediscover your writing groove, without too much pressure. 😉

Of course, one risk of taking a break is that you’ll lose momentum and never return to writing at all. It’s hard to work up the courage to open your current draft and put words on the page—especially with all the negative emotions writer’s burnout can create.

So, here are a few ways to stay productive as a writer, even when you can’t work up the energy to work on your novel itself…

4 Thing to Do When You Can’t Write Another Word

Spruce up your outline:.

When it comes to recovering from burnout, this makes outlining a huge help.

If you’ve never heard of an outline before, this is a document that organizes the most important information about your story—from your plot to your premise, characters, settings, and more. This is a great way to plan your novel before you begin writing, or to simply test new ideas before committing them to your draft.

If you’d like a guiding hand to help you outline your own novel, check out The Ten Day Outline . The ten-day process you’ll find inside could be the perfect way to take a break from writing!

Schedule a Brainstorming Day:

Writers are lucky because, believe it or not, staring out the window lost in thought is technically productive!

Sometimes you just need an afternoon of brainstorming to explore everything your story has to offer. So, try scheduling some down time, turning on some music, and grabbing a notebook. Then, sit with your novel. See where your mind takes you and imagine all the different paths your story could take. As you go, write down a few notes to remind yourself of what you came up with when it comes time to return to your draft.

Read, Read, Read:

If you want to make progress on your novel, but don’t have the energy to write, it might be a good time to channel your inner student and do some studying.

After all, when you can’t write, you can always read.

This is a great chance to pick up some classics you may have missed out on in the past, or perhaps read a brand new book that’s been trending in your genre. Consider tossing in some books on the writing craft too. These will help you refine your writing skills, all while thinking about your novel in a new way. Who knows, you might even have a breakthrough that reinvigorates your desire to write!

If you’re looking for books on the writing craft, here are a few I recommend:

• Write Your Hero
• The Writer’s Journey
• Plot Versus Character
• Create Story Conflict

Write About Something Else:

Last but not least, sometimes you want to write, but just not your novel—and that’s ok.

If you’re feeling this way, start by giving yourself permission to work on other stories, at least for a little while. Then, try pulling up a list of interesting writing prompts, set a timer, and dig into some writing sprints. Or, consider writing flash fiction, a wacky short story, or a side story based on one of your secondary characters.

Whatever you choose to write about, the important thing is that you’re writing. 🙂

Finding Balance in Your Writing Life

How to Overcome Writer’s Burnout

by Kellie McGann | 40 comments

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Have you ever experienced writer's burnout? Although I call myself a writer, the last few months I haven't been writing. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but somewhere between ghostwriting projects and blog posts, I just stopped working on my own writing projects.

I couldn't put words on a page, and when I did, the words barely made sense. I stopped writing for a total of three months, and no matter what I did, nothing seemed to help. None of my usual writer's block tricks were working.

It took me a few weeks to realize that it wasn't writer's block I was dealing with. It was writer's burnout.

Writer's Block Versus Writer's Burnout

Burnout is something that happens when someone is stressed and overworked for too long. Writer's burnout lasts longer than your typical writer's block and is a lot harder to overcome.

Writer's block is looking at a page, unable or unsure how to put what is in your head on the page.

Writer's burnout is looking at the page, hating the page, and questioning your entire identity as a writer, all for an extended period of time.

Why Writer's Burnout Happens

Writer's burnout can happen for hundreds of different reasons. For me, it happened in the middle of ghostwriting my third book for someone else. After a year of balancing writing for myself and writing books for other people, I had lost my voice and purpose. I'd lost my own creative energy.

Being a freelance writer (especially if that's your full-time job) can be an exhausting as you consistently use your writing skills and problem solving to help clients. It's extremely rewarding work when done well. 

Maybe you're burnt out even when writing for your audience. I found myself locked in a loop of writing for my own website only to watch the engagement and traffic fluctuate. 

When traffic was down, I started thinking that my words didn't matter and no one needed to hear what I had to say.

I know I'm not the only one who's been here.

I've talked to writers even recently who are just sick of the entire process. For them, it was the writing and publishing industry that became a game they were sick of playing.

One contributing factor to creative burnout is perfectionism and driving yourself to unreasonable lengths (and even mental exhaustion) to pursue an unrealistic version of what you think your writing life should be. It's a lot of pressure. 

Everyone has a different reason that might lead them to this place of frustration and resentment, but if you resonate with this feeling, you've probably been or are going through a period of creative burnout.

How To Overcome Writer's Burnout

The last few weeks, I've finally gotten out of this writer's burnout thing. It doesn't last forever—there is hope for your temporary animosity towards writing!

Here's the pathway to get out of the pit:

1. Recognize the Problem

This might sound like the most obvious and cliché first step, but it's true. Name the problem and then you can solve it. You've heard that advice dozens of times, but that's because it's true; you can't move on without first recognizing that something is wrong.

Have you ever thought,

I just have nothing to say, no words to write. I don't care about writing anymore. I have no new creative ideas. I never want to write again.

If these thoughts have persisted over time, you might want to consider that you're burned out and not facing only writer's block. 

2. Don't Stop Writing

When you realize you're burning out, you might think you should stop writing. But that's actually the most devastating thing you could do for your writing. Writing is hard; you know that. And when it gets so hard that you're not sure you can go on, the worst thing you can do is give in and stop completely.

It might be a good idea to put down the projects that are making you stressed and frustrated, and give yourself time to work on something with no pressure or expectations. This will let your creativity flow in new ways.

Give yourself a short break to do something creative outside of writing, go for a walk or other activity that benefits your physical health or mental well-being. 

Then revisit your writing schedule and plan shorter writing sessions or try writing in a different writing style or genre. Do one of our practice exercises to get the words coming in a different way. 

But most importantly, do not stop writing. You've worked so hard to become the writer that you are. Don't let the temporary frustration stop you from doing what you were meant to do.

3. Find Yourself (again)

At the beginning of every writer's professional career, they must find themselves. It can take weeks, months, or years for a writer to find themselves and their voice. Once you find yourself, it's impossible to lose yourself. But it is possible to forget what you've found.

When you're feeling lost in your writing, try taking a moment to remember who you are as a writer, and more importantly why you write . Remember your audience, your message, and most importantly, your voice.

It can be helpful to revisit writing pieces that felt most like you. Flip through old journals to remember that you've struggled before and came through that period of doubting your writing dreams. 

4. Don't Try to Explain Yourself

For me, the hardest thing about overcoming burnout was publishing again. I hadn't posted articles in months and had no idea what to say to my audience. I stressed over how to explain my silence for days—until I realized I didn't have to.

It's a complicated and messy thing to try to explain why you set aside your most important projects. At first, even you might not know exactly why you had to switch gears, and that's okay.

You don't need to explain why you haven't been writing for a certain audience or where you've been. You just need to start again.

5. Write Consistently

The last thing you need to know about overcoming writer's burnout is that while you're in it and especially once you've moved past it, you need to write consistently.

While you're deep in the pit of burnout, you'll be tempted not to write. (If you've forgotten why you shouldn't give into that temptation, go read point #2 again.)

The best way to fight that temptation is to have a plan.

Write every day, even if it's just a couple hundred words. This habit will be vital to the future of your writing and will help you avoid falling back into a writing burnout.

You CAN Overcome Writer's Burnout

Overcoming writer's burnout is not as easy as a list of five simple steps makes it seem. But these steps are the beginning of the process. If you're feeling frustrated and unsure if your words even matter, I want to assure you that they do and that there is hope for getting past it!

Have you ever felt stuck for months? Ever needed to take a break from writing? What did you do? Let us know in the comments below !

Have you gone through writer's burnout? What helped you overcome it? What's your best advice for writers struggling with burnout?

Take fifteen minutes to share your story if you've gotten through a time like this. If you've never experienced burnout, share some of the things that keep you motivated to write. If it helps you to write it from a character's perspective to get some distance from your own struggles, go for it. 

When you’re finished, share your work in the Pro Practice Workshop here (and if you’re not a member yet, you can join here ). A nd let's encourage one another wherever we are in our writing.

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Kellie McGann

Kellie McGann is the founder of Write a Better Book . She partners with leaders to help tell their stories in book form.

On the weekends, she writes poetry and prose.

She contributes to The Write Practice every other Wednesday.

40 Comments

At the beginning of my senior year of high school, I went several months without writing because I was too busy with everything else. When I finally got a moment to jot something down, it felt like rain after a drought. I had never realized before how vital writing was to my happiness. If I’m not writing whatever stress I’m dealing with feels ten times worse. So now I make sure I’m always writing, even if it’s just on the notes in my phone.

Writing is so important for us writers to be able to process and express ourselves. I’m glad you’ve found a way to keep writing! Don’t stop!

Rain after a drought – how apt! Well done. Well done to you, also Kellie.

I have. Discouragement can be a big burnout factor for me. I have a few exercises that pull me through it. I can’t stop writing either, everything seizes up. One of my best methods for this is going through google images to find a face I absolutely have to write about. I might simply describe the person, or use their face to read more into their character. It reminds me of why I write and how much fun it can be when you let go of all the worries, and pulls me through the burnout. You can read what I mean in more depth on this blog post I wrote a few days ago (if I’m allowed to share) https://thedailystory.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/should-writers-write-everyday-what-do-they-even-write-about-every-single-day/

Jennifer, I love these exercises! I’ll have to try one sometime!

What I hate most is this filling up of form with name, password and what not. I shut it off quickly. It impinges on my natural freedom. So, like this, as I’m presently involved in: you can say, it’s like using the satellite rocket of someone else–here, one belonging to dear Jennifer, to explore the world. As far as writing is concerned, I don’t get bogged down by boredom or writer’s blocks or blanks. You can daily find my piece on the Facebook. What comes to my mind first, I delve deep into it. The piece gets finished quickly. At times, there are a number of ideas floating in the mind, yet I pre-inform my readers about the release dates—like some new movie on the card—to keep my readers well prepared for the next pieces as well.

Good observations about the stage where you just simply can’t face putting another word on the page! Unfortunately, for many writers, the best cure for both writers burnout and blocks is one simple thing: you nave to make the money to pay the bills. When writing is your job, much of the time you simply can’t stop to worry about whether you feel like it or have ideas. The client wants the thing – on time! And if you are the writer you know you are, you deliver.

CJ, I totally get that! It’s hard to balance being a professional writer and still finding the energy and creativity to write your own stories. I know it’s possible though! Someday I’ll be able to be a full-time writer writing my OWN stories 😉 Love your thoughts! Thanks for sharing!

The thing that has helped me most in recent months to overcome burnout is my writers’ critique group. We submit 5,000 words to each other every month for critique. There were a few months earlier this year that I was getting burnt out with all of my writing and dreading the thought of submitting something new. I thought about taking a couple months off from the group but instead, I did what step 2 says here and kept writing. I turned the focus to a different project, kept writing every month, and overcame the burnout. Having people who count on you on a monthly basis is a great way to ensure that you write consistently.

Michelle, that’s so great! The funny thing is, I actually thought the right answer at first was to take a break. Luckily, I had some people that told me that wasn’t the right answer. That community is so important. So glad you’ve overcame that and love writing again!!

You got this Pamela. Don’t stop writing!

I may have had this before. I am not sure because I get stressed out quite a bit. Trying to re-learn grammar and correcting my kids’ grammar can be exhausting. I forget what I’m doing……..!

LaCresha, I totally get that. I think I’ve given up on grammar for the time being. I’m sure glad we have an editor for these posts. 😉

I’m working on my first fiction book this May after my trip from Japan (the writing which I postpone since my return from Barcelona November 2015.) 2 months on, I’m at 21,125 words. Very likely, it will be a novella, it is exhausting enough. I have not written for the past 2 days, and I felt like a loser. Maybe because I’m living on my savings for the past 11 months and my wife is working to support my aspiration. The longest I have stopped writing was 14 days. It was the New Year celebration in my country. We (I) binge on food, drinks, sleep, and lots of TV (and YouTube).

Oh yes, what helped me beat the block and kept me writing. These are some of the tools; – Anime – Movies – Eavesdropping gossips – Newspapers comments – Yi Jing (the book of changes) the older translated title was I-Ching.

For the first four tools, they are all about stories. Interesting stories. I listened, watched, then I mixed them with my imagination. Next, there will be words that formed ridiculous events, actions, and reactions on my page (screen).

As for Yi Jing, it is difficult to explain here. All in all, it is an ancient book on Chinese philosophy which comes with hexagrams, symbols, text, etc. I use these elements into plotting my scenes.

Why I write? Or why I want to continue to write? One word, CONTROL.

In the fictitious world, I am God.

I write Hilton to die, Hilton dies. I write Hilton to return as an animal spirit, he will be an animal spirit. I don’t get much control in my daily life (I’m married), but in works of my own fiction, I am God.

For as long as I’m alive and writing, I am the Almighty, until the ‘block’ visits.

Doesn’t that makes one want to write?

I understand the comment about the marriage partner. I hope your marriage is (mostly) happy. Mine wasn’t. He blocked much of my writing. But he can’t now. And your comment – Hiton Dies. He dies! I am God. Yes, in writing fiction, that is the power over our character’s lives, which balances their ability to stymie our creativity when they need to be convinced to do what we want them to do. I remember – some time back – using Tarot to help with plot twists. It worked.

Thanks for your concern, we are happily married, with some petty squabbles every now and then, what every couple does.

Yeah, i think i have writer burnout too. I did not write for weeks for my part 2 books. I am not sure what is the problem. Maybe I need a rest before hitting the journey again. Or am I giving myself excuses to get delay? But i think i need to start now for my future..

Jason, don’t stop writing! I thought it was the answer too, but it’s not. You have to push through the toil. It will be worth it!

I am currently working a full-time job and doing distance learning for a bachelors degree with ten modules a year. These two things keep me quite busy and I am often too tired at the end of the day to do anything. This results in me writing little to nothing in months and when I do it often feels flat and uninspired. I found that it helps to keep a notepad close by so that I can just jot down whatever pops into my mind. Be it entire poems, single line phrases, story ideas or plot lines for stories that I still want to write. After I had done this I found it a lot easier to write something that (although not completely proud of it) satisfies me.

Gert, that does sound exhausting. I love the notepad idea! What a good way to write when time is hard to come by.

I’ve not experienced burnout, but I have encountered times when I strongly resisted writing. Once was during Nanowrimo, and once when writing the first draft of a short story for a competition.

I think the key to staying motivated to write is 1) being consistent, and 2) mixing things up. Sounds contradictory, I know. But being consistent is what leads to building a writing habit, which will get you writing even on days you don’t feel like it. Mixing things up – maybe writing at a different place, time, or genre – keeps things fresh, so that your daily writing doesn’t become a chore.

During Nanowrimo I told myself my goal was to hit 500 words every day. It was a qualified success. Holding myself accountable to that goal pushed me through even on days I really didn’t feel like writing. However, my 500 words were just random scenes featuring my protagonist, with little effort to connect each day’s work into a plot. This taught me that while habit gets you started, you also need to aim higher once the habit is established. Because you can never achieve more than you aspire to achieve.

And I think that’s why writers are important. We help humanity dream.

I love your thoughts here.I think the consistency thing is HUGE. I 100% agree with what you say here, “you can never achieve more than you aspire to achieve.” Just keep writing :).

When I first started writing alongside my day job I worried that one would adversely affect the other. Either I’d love writing so much that I’d resent going to work, or I’d work so hard that I wouldn’t have time to write.

Instead I’ve found them mutually reinforcing each other. Because of this truth I realized through writing – that you can’t achieve more than you aspire to – I’m thinking harder about setting goals for my day job as well. (Beyond “show up, work hard, get paid”.) Taking ownership of writing helps me take ownership of working!

And thanks for your encouragement! You keep going too!

When I first decided to call myself a writer (I had been writing for decades, of course) I had my doubts, which led to a dry spell. I committed to writing every day, even if it was just one sentence. Even if it was simply, “I don’t know what to write!” I found that one sentence generally leads to two, which usually leads to a whole paragraph, which can lead to more and more.

With my current WIP, I have created a character I absolutely love. I keep wanting to see the movie version, and I’ve realized there will never be ANY version of this character’s story if I don’t write it. I don’t even mind writing crap just so I can get to the good parts. After all, editing is still a thing, right?

Bruce, I love how you view the writing process. It’s very true. Sometimes you have to write the boring stuff so you can get to the good stuff. You have to write knowing that editing can and will come later. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Keep writing!

Thanks for your encouraging words. I’m actually working on my WIP right now!

My really great writing comes when I’m viewing my story on my mental video screen. My fingers have to keep up with the dialogue, the action. It’s great! My current WIP is diverging – knew what I wanted to write but got interrupted, then couldn’t get back. Then yesterday I found myself exploring an earlier portion – mean the short story is not going to be that short. But then editing: Have decided to write it out, then – if needed – I can choose to have a long short story (novella?) or 3 short stories. Or both. Will decide that when I get to edit.

I’m very tickled at your wanting to see the movie version of a character you’re writing, before you’re even done with her! Tends to be a symptom of readers with a short attention span, so amused that even authors want to “cut to the movie”.

It’s not so much the idea of a movie over a book (although I would watch a movie with this character in a heartbeat), it’s just the idea that I want to know what happens to her. It’s as if I forget her story has never been told.

Oh, definitely. I have a similar problem. I love my protag and want to get to know her. But she’s so reticent and I have to keep begging her to talk to me. I’ve found that, as with real people, persistence helps. Sit down with her every day and eventually she’s bound to open up.

Love this. I’m not completely burnt out with my writing (just taking is slow and working on this and that) but I’ve massively burnt myself out with my art. I draw frequently, and it’s one of the ways I’ve earned income (which is also the reason why I burn out faster on art than I do writing, blegh). I remember when I spent HOURS writing and drawing in my room and I just did it. Didn’t have to ask myself “should I be writing/drawing right now?” Trying to get back to that. 🙂

I have just now come out of writer’s burnout. Because I have finally broken through the barrier that kept me a victim. Even when I kept reminding myself that I was a survivor, it kept dragging me back into the woe is me morass. I am triumphant. So what if people – other writers who I respected – disrespect me. Can’t say that they disrespect my writing when they don’t bother to read my writing. I CAN WRITE. I know it. Gave a fable to a nurse to read last week. Didn’t expect her to relate to it. But she said, ‘Grace. This is good!’ ‘Yes, I replied, because I know it is good. I can write Totally different style to Hemingway, but people also dismissed his writing in his early days. And Ruth Parks. Readers had to evolve, to grow up to her – brilliant – writing.

Your post was money from home. Seeing, once again that others, even pro’s hit a wall, a full-speed, face first, black of night wall was free-ing. My head still throbs from the impact with the wall but the feeling that we are all in this together helps me smile through the pounding. I recently read “Ron Carlson Writes a Story” and it had many a-ha moments. Number One: Stay in the room. Shun Google and just write. Thanks, Kellie

I love reading poems and writing but I never allow myself to try. I suppose you could say that my burnout has been my whole life. For that reason, I gave myself save to believe I can write. Here’s what I came up with-

Bleeding In

I stop – remind myself to invite in oxygen. I breathe. Air laced with invisible weight pulling me closer to the ground. I’ve been here before. I call it my hometown. Remembering the smell, the touch, the – nothing. Empty Echoes fill the spaces where choirs used to sing. “I promise.” I taste deception on my tongue and confuse it with honey. Sweetness dripping in sync with syllables. Longing yet despising Trusting yet questioning My head and heart go to battle as the knife is sharpened. Thoughts have no time Feelings have no space You- you are the knife slicing through the jugular of my heart and I bleed in.

I love reading poems and writing but I never allow myself to try. I suppose you could say that my burnout has been my whole life. For that reason, I gave myself space to believe I can write. Here’s what I came up with quickly-

I like this. I can relate to the sentiment expressed.

Have I ever felt stuck for months? How about years? I’m not sure if it was writer’s block, burnout, or a combination…Combine that with depression and I was really lost. I not only didn’t know if I ever wanted to write again, I had my therapist convinced I wasn’t a writer either (she couldn’t see how badly my depression was affecting things). I lost my day job at the end of 2014, and temping hasn’t quite filled the gap, and I haven’t been able to find another permanent position, so in February of this year I finally took the hint the universe was giving me with that 2 by 4. It’s not paying off yet, but I’m not giving up. For the record, I still kept a diary/journal throughout my depression/off-years, so in a way I hadn’t really given up. I went back to my backlog of Write Practice emails from a few years ago, and when I found the Becoming Writer spring contest, I jumped on it. I just have to keep at it and believe I can do this, no matter how long it takes. Thanks for reading.

Interesting post! I hadn’t thought there was such a thing as writer’s burnout. I have fallow times, and during those times, I read everything I can get my hands on. Reading for me really recharges my writing batteries, and I never feel like I’m not writing when I’m reading.

Thank you so, so much for this article! I have been going through an intense period of really just HATING my own work, and I was trying so hard to understand what happened. I used to love writing, and had a ton of exciting projects in the works, but then one day I opened up my document and stared at the page and realized I suddenly had no words to put to paper. At first, I thought it might just be my depression acting up, but this state of things has been going on for months now, and I was afraid I’d never be able to write again. Now I think I understand what the problem is, and I’m going to fight through it as best I can. Again, thank you so much for this post! I am greatly indebted to you for helping me understand what’s going on.

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7 Ways to Fix (and Prevent) Writer Burnout

Writing is mentally exhausting, and if you work for long stretches of time, it can be physically exhausting too. This is where writer burnout comes into play. Writers are just as prone to burnout as anyone else , and if you’re writing on top of going to school or working a full-time job or taking care of a family, you’re especially at risk.

Burnout can show up in any number of ways: writer’s block, mental or physical exhaustion that you just can’t shake, lackluster work, difficulty concentrating, or a feeling of dread when you sit down to write (or just think about writing).

Even if you’re in the midst of writer burnout, there are ways to mitigate and calm that feeling. Here are ways to fix your current writer burnout—and how to keep it from coming back.

4 ways to fix writer burnout

1. if you need a break, take a break.

One of the most common bits of advice writers receive is to write every day, no matter what. This is a great habit, of course, and one of the best ways to prevent writer’s block and stay on track to meeting your goals—but it can also make you feel worn down.

This is your permission to step away. Sometimes you just need a break , and that’s OK. You might find that after a day or two away, you’re ready to get back to the page, or you may find that an interval system works better for you (more on that later).

2. Balance your mind

Sometimes you can’t take a break from writing. When this is the case, adopt a meditation practice. You can start and end your day with meditation or simply start and end your writing session with a moment of mindfulness.

Learning how to quiet your mind at any time of day will help you manage, and eventually smooth out, that feeling of being overwhelmed.

3. Be an editor for a while

If you’re feeling stuck on your manuscript, forget you’re the writer and become the editor for a while. Editing is an important part of any writing project, so when you need a break from the burn and churn, pretend you’re the editor. Review your manuscript with a critical eye and imagine how a reader might experience your manuscript: Mark questions for the writer, note where your mind starts to wander or where the language is unclear, and jot down ideas for new material.

4. Change the topic or play with form

You might not be burnt out on writing altogether, just your current project. If you want to keep writing, consider tackling different subject matter or writing about the same subject matter in a different form (like fiction to essay, for example. This can give your brain a much-needed break and even stoke your creativity and give you new ideas for your regular projects.

3 ways to prevent writer burnout

1. write in sprints or intervals.

Writing every single day may have contributed to your being burnt out. If daily writing sessions aren’t sustainable, develop a rhythm to your discipline by writing in sprints or intervals.

Maybe write every day becomes write every other day. Maybe you alternate long writing sessions with short ones, or write for three days, then take a break for two. Maybe you write for two weeks, take one day off, then edit for a week.

You may have to experiment with writing schedules to figure out what works for you. But to keep yourself on task, make a calendar that you can easily follow and plan for. If you need accountability, share your writing calendar with a friend or writing buddy who can help you stick to your new schedule.

2. Join a writing workshop

Writing workshops and writing groups are a great way to balance discussion, writing, and critiquing others’ work, which can help you stay inspired and engaged with your projects.

3. Balance writing with gathering material

Writing doesn’t always mean sitting at your computer or at your desk. Writers also need experience. It’s where we get our ideas and inspiration, and it’s how we let the magic of our brains turn fragments into thoughts and ideas and, eventually, into words on the page.

There’s no need to take a big trip or invest in deep research. Gathering material can be as simple as going to a coffee shop to people-watch, taking a walk in your neighborhood, going to the park, or visiting a museum to take in a new exhibit. Make sure you have a pen and paper on you, though—just in case inspiration does strike.

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Self-Care for Writers: Wellness Tips to Avoid Burnout

Medical communicators need to take care of their minds, bodies, and souls to avoid burnout and health issues.

However, self-care doesn’t need to be a pricey privilege. There are plenty of ways medical communicators can work to maintain a balanced and sustainable career.

Work/Life Balance Tips for Freelancers

Many freelancers in medical writing careers have a hard time saying no to clients and projects. It’s not a good idea to push yourself so hard that you can’t keep up. In AMWA’s Expert Tips for Freelance Medical Writing , seasoned pros address this issue with some sage advice. 

Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself.

Limit weekend work.

Take vacations, and don’t work while on vacation.

Set aside time before and after a vacation to deal with the inevitable crises that arise.

Explore restorative practices such as yoga and meditation.

Take careful control of your work schedule by planning and prioritizing.

Work a regular schedule.

Have a dedicated place to work.

Develop outside friendships and hobbies.

Adapting to Freelance Life

Reggie Wilson, a medical education writer and health coach, is the founder of FitforFreelance.com . Wilson is on a mission to help more medical communicators become “adaptive business leaders.” 

At the AMWA 2021 Medical Writing & Communication Conference, Wilson noted the contradiction inherent in writing about health while neglecting your own health.

Wilson says weight gain, low back pain, and constant stress are common in the medical communication industry. He seeks to create the same types of wellness support systems for freelancers that some companies offer onsite or remotely.

Make Your Remote Office Work for You

Most experienced pros recommend that anyone working at home create a dedicated workspace. Work/life balance is easier to achieve when you can create some physical and psychological separation between work and home responsibilities. 

Medical communicators spend many hours a day on screens, usually sitting down. Bodies aren’t meant to sit for long periods of time. That’s why so many people working on computers experience shoulder, arm, back, and neck pain. Mousing or typing can lead to other repetitive strain issues. 

Setting up an ergonomic workstation is a great way to keep your mind and body happy while you work. You’ll need to think about how far the monitor is from your face, the height of your desk, and the distance you are reaching for the keyboard or mouse.

Above all, you need to get up and move, stretch, and counteract the forward curve that comes from poring over important medical documents all day.

One analysis of 13 studies found that nonexercisers who sat for more than 8 hours a day had a risk of dying that was similar to that caused by smoking or obesity. 

If you need a reminder to get out of that dangerous chair, set a timer. Most ergonomics experts say we should be taking at least a short break every 20-30 minutes.

When you are sitting, imagine a string pulling your spine gently toward the ceiling. Get up frequently to walk or stretch. AMWA events and conferences are starting to include yoga and walks into sessions and activities to make sure that our members stay healthy and aligned.

Fighting Burnout 

If you are working remotely for an employer, investigate whether the company offers virtual wellness programs, and take advantage of opportunities targeted to medical communicators.

Attendees at the 2022 Medical Writing & Communication Conference will have another chance to attend one of Reggie Wilson’s presentations: “Fighting Burnout at Home: The Hidden Value of Health Habits.” 

“The variable schedule of working remotely and/or running a freelance business challenges our boundaries,” Wilson writes in the session description. “It becomes easy to say yes when we mean no, and we often forget to take care of our needs in the process. Habits regarding food, physical activity, and planning have an outsized impact on our mental clarity and resilience.”

Wellness for All

The pandemic has ushered in a new era of working at home for medical communicators. 

Whether you are your own boss or working remotely for an organization, there are opportunities to learn and grow your career in a sustainable way.

When medical communicators use principles of self-care to nurture the health of their minds and bodies, they work better, smarter, and more productively. 

Happy writers can help make a healthier world.

August 22, 2022 at 1:00 PM

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Home / Book Writing / Writer Burnout: 19 Tips for Recovery and Prevention

Writer Burnout: 19 Tips for Recovery and Prevention

Do you find your creativity dwindling? Have you lost the passion to write or create stories for your readers? If so, it might be time to read this article.

As someone who has experienced severe burnout in the past, I will discuss signs of burnout and provide tips to recover from and prevent it in the future.

I will also discuss how writers can maintain their sanity by taking care of themselves in order to avoid burning out.

• What burnout is
• The signs and symptoms of burnout
• The difference between burnout and writer's block
• How to recover from burnout
• How to prevent burnout in the first place

Table of contents

• What is Burnout?
• Physical Signs
• Emotional Signs
• Behavioral Signs
• Writer's Burnout vs. Writer's Block
• Why is Writing Mentally Exhausting?
• 1. Take Time Off
• 2. Improve Your Sleep
• 3. Pick Up A Hobby
• 4. Write Something Else for a While
• 5. Find Inspirational Stories
• 6. Reduce, Reduce, Reduce
• 7. Freewriting
• 8. Spend Quality Time With Loved Ones

9. Identify Your “Why”

• 10. Change Your Scenery
• 1. Establish A Regular Writing Routine
• 2. Eat A Healthy Diet And Exercise
• 3. Explore A Meditation Practice
• 4. Organize

5. Focus on the “One Thing”

6. learn to say “no”.

• 7. Take Regular Breaks
• 8. Try New Things and Never Stop Learning
• 9. Treat Yourself Now and Then
• You Can Overcome Burnout

Burnout is a form of mental exhaustion, usually caused by a variety of conditions and stressors taking place in the workplace, in your family life, in your health, or in your social life.

Burnout is the result of all these stressors combining to make you feel overwhelmed, emotionally fatigued, depressed, and like you just can't keep up with everything.

It is particularly harmful for writers, who rely on their writing to make a living. Writing is one of the most brain-intensive things that we can do, so burnout can be common among authors.

Common causes include:

• Taking on too many responsibilities
• A disorganized work environment
• Excessive or prolonged stress
• Having work that is not in alignment with your values
• Feeling undervalued at work
• A lack of success
• A lack of sleep
• A lack of support from friends, family, and coworkers

Burnout affects all types of writers, from the online content writer, to the novelist, to the freelance writer. Thankfully, the tactics to improve true burnout are applicable to all.

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The Signs of Burnout

It's important to recognize the signs of burnout if you want a chance at recovering or preventing it. Sometimes, when we are in a burnt out state, we don't even realize that there is a problem, and so we can't correct it.

Generally, these signs can be categorized in three ways: physical, emotional, and behavioral. Let's look at all three of these.

We may take this for granted a lot of the time, but the body and the mind are actually two parts of the same thing. Here are some physical signs of burnout that you might want to look out for.

• Physical fatigue
• Feeling sick without a clear source
• You wake up feeling exhausted

Emotional signs are some of the most common signals that you are experiencing burnout. Here are a few to watch out for:

• A feeling of hopelessness
• Feeling detached from your work or from others
• A lack of motivation
• A feeling of pointlessness regarding your writing
• You can't relax
• You don't enjoy writing
• You're moody and negative
• You forget things easily

Lastly, are the behavioral signs. These are things you might do or say that indicate you have writer’s burnout. Here are just a few.

• You no longer have a social life and isolate yourself a lot
• You abuse alcohol or food
• Your ability to keep commitments worsens
• You procrastinate
• You keep thinking about what you have to do even when you're supposed to relax
• You snack a lot

Do any of these sound familiar? If so, then you may be experiencing burnout. And you don't have to have all the symptoms either. If you're a busy person, or write a lot , you are at risk of experiencing these symptoms if you're not careful.

It's easy to think that writer's block and writer burnout are the same thing. But in fact, the two are quite different.

With writer's block, you usually want to write, but the creativity is simply not flowing. This can be from a problem with the writing itself, with your outline , or just a simple lack of knowledge of what comes next.

With writer burnout, or creative burnout in general, it results in a complete lack of desire to write in the first place, even when you know what to write down.

Writing is known to be one of the most thought-intensive acts that we can do. When it comes to work, it can be very hard. And even when the words are flowing, this still puts a large load on our brain.

Why is that?

The truth is that mental exertion can cause many of the same symptoms as physical exertion, which is why we can be tired at the end of a full day of content writing, even if we sat in the chair all day.

Writing (and any form of creativity, really) also requires a lot of decision-making, which is known to break down our limited source of willpower over the day.

This is why you will often see a lot of authors, even authors who write for a living, only writing for 2 to 3 hours a day, and spending the remaining time doing other tasks that are less creatively draining.

How to Recover From Burnout

so if you read everything up to this point, you may have an idea of whether you have writing burnout or not. If you decide that you do, don't beat yourself up about it. Almost every author has experienced creative burnout at least once, if not multiple times. You are in good company.

Recovery, however, can be a rough road, and it can be different for everyone. So here is a list of tips that you can apply to recover from burnout. Not all will be relevant for you, but these are great places to start in your recovery process.

Some people will tell you that you should not stop writing if you are experiencing burnout, I respectfully disagree.

While you shouldn't put off writing for too long, and in some cases you may have to continue writing for whatever reason, I recommend you take at least a little time off.

This can be in the form of a vacation, an extended weekend, or simply a week or two where you are not writing, but focusing on other forms of creative work instead.

The point is to give yourself a hard reset, a palate cleanser, so you can come back fully refreshed and focused.

In today's society, most of us do not get enough sleep. Sleep is essential for our management of stress, and renewing your mind and body.

If you are experiencing burnout, this is one of the first things I would look at. Are you getting at least seven hours of sleep per night? If not, move things around, eliminate some items on your to-do list, do whatever it takes to get that extra bit of sleep.

Because you are not going to have success recovering from burnout if your sleep still suffers.

For many of us, writing was our hobby. When it becomes a job, that can often lead to writer burnout, because something that used to be your creative escape has now become work.

So for some, you might find it beneficial to find a new creative outlet for expression. Maybe you could start painting a picture, or playing chess, or learning a martial art.

The point is that you expose yourself to something new that will refresh your brain.

Perhaps you are simply tired of what you're currently writing. You've been in the same world or the same genre for too long.

If this is the case, then it can help to have something to switch to when you are tired of one thing. For example, I personally like to switch between fiction and nonfiction writing as a kind of palate cleanser for my brain.

You'll need to be careful with this one however, because switching between two different things can often result in a feeling that you have too much to do. Proceed with caution.

I find that when I hear the inspirational stories of others, it can often help me get the motivation I need to continue one.

Find other authors that have also gone through burnout, and learn what they did to get out of it. One great resource I recommend for most authors are the books by Becca Syme , they go into great depth on this subject.

Reading other books by authors like yourself is another great way to get that fire of inspiration going again. Tell yourself that if they could do it, you are capable of doing it too.

By far the biggest problem leading to burnout is that you are doing far too much. You are trying to write that book, work a full-time job, take care of a family, run a business, manage employees, etc.

All that can build up.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find things to eliminate, but this is an essential step if you want to reduce your symptoms of burnout.

You want to focus on what you do best. So find someone like a virtual assistant that can help take a load off for you, particularly with those tasks that you don't like.

Or you can simply eliminate them. I think you will be surprised at how many things we think are urgent and necessary, but that we can give up in favor of focusing on that which is more important, like the writing.

I also like to tweak my processes to see if I can find new ways of doing things that are more efficient: that old adage of working smarter, not harder.

For example, I found that dictation really helped me improve my writing speed , but also the trepidation that I felt when starting a big writing project.

Reducing that stress has definitely helped me recover and prevent burnout.

Let's say you need to write anyway, even with burnout. One great way to do this is to freewrite.

Freewriting is where you simply start putting words down on the page, without even thinking about what they should be about, or where to start.

You just write.

Incidentally, this is also a great cure for writer's block. It helps you get past certain barriers in your head, and helps to put you into flow, which is kind of the opposite of burnout.

If you have a special friend, a spouse, other family members, or someone you deeply respect, it can be a great idea to spend some time with those people.

Doing so will increase your feeling of self-worth, and it literally causes physical changes to the body that help refresh and renew it.

If you can combine this with tip #1, that is the ideal way to do it. But bear in mind that you need to spend time with people that will not get you down.

Spend time with people that are supportive and encouraging of your goals, who won't bring you down further by unfairly criticizing your choices. Because this can actually worsen burnout if that love and encouragement is not there.

If you haven't already, you need to identify the “why” of your writing. Why are you choosing to spend this time writing? Is it for work? And if so, why did you choose to take that job?

If you are writing a book, what made you want to write it? Why do you want to start a business? Is it for the financial freedom, the creative expression, to fulfill a lifelong dream?

The answers to these questions will be very revealing, and I encourage you to review your answers anytime you feel burnt out. It can help to keep you motivated, keep your eye on the ball, and give you the extra push you need to overcome burnout.

Another great way to reduce and prevent burnout is to get out of your current location.

This can be taking a vacation, as I mentioned above, but it can also be simply getting out and writing in a place where you don't usually write, such as a coffee shop or a library.

This can help you see things in new ways, and it also gives you some mental distance from the problems that are causing burnout.

How to Prevent Burnout

Okay, so we have covered what to do if you have burnout, but burnout is something that is better prevented than healed. If you don't take certain precautions, that burnout will come right back before you know it.

So what are some steps that we can do to prevent burnout from happening in the first place? Here are a few:

My first step would be to establish a regular writing routine . Studies show that when you establish a habit, it takes less willpower to perform that task.

How much you write is up to you. It can be as little as 15 minutes a day, to several hours in a day. It can be only on weekdays, or every single day.

The most important thing is that you remain consistent. Doing this over a period of time will eventually help you become automatic in your writing, reducing the amount of mental work that it takes to get started, and thereby avoiding burnout.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor is this medical advice. That said, there is a wealth of evidence that improving your diet, and having regular exercise, greatly improves your mood, your productivity, and lowers your stress.

As a personal example, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. As I started improving my diet to lower my blood sugar, I found that I was able to write a lot more, and with a lot more efficiency, than I had before. I suddenly discovered that the brain fog that I was feeling was not normal, and could be prevented.

This is often the most overlooked area, because we don't necessarily put together the mind and the body as being part of the same thing.

But they are the same thing, so by fixing one we fix the other.

If you can only pick one thing from this list to improve, I highly recommend that you work on your diet and exercise.

Meditation and mindfulness are other areas, related to diet and exercise, that can have a huge effect on your overall health. Plus, they focus primarily on the mind, which is huge if you want to master burnout.

Once you get into it, what I have found is that meditation allows me to see my thought patterns more clearly, giving me greater awareness on how they affect me throughout the day.

This can help us discover ways in which we can improve our writing life by making changes to how we think and what we focus on.

You don't have to meditate for hours to get the benefits, just a few minutes every day will help you immensely if you do it regularly over time (which is key).

Sometimes, just cleaning up your workspace is enough to help you get back on track.

This could be clearing off your desk, or fully reorganizing your house to be more Feng Shui.

This is another way to improve mental clarity by making your physical space more manageable and less cluttered, and it can definitely help avoid burnout.

Just make sure that you are not cleaning and organizing as an excuse to not write, because it can become a huge procrastination tactic. That said, a cluttered workspace can be detrimental to your mental health, so it's good to take care of.

One step I should mention is to focus on the “one thing.”

In his book, Outliers , Malcolm Gladwell suggests that it takes about ten thousand hours of practice to become a master at something.

What this means is that you have to be very focused and deliberate in how you spend your time if you want to become the best at something.

Additionally, having too many things on your plate can be a huge contributor to burnout. So eliminating those things and focusing on just one thing is a great way to avoid it.

Find the thing that generates the most results for you, which I assume in this case is your writing, and focus on that for a while.

I think you will find it to be very liberating.

One skill that is very important is learning to set healthy boundaries with other people.

A lot of the time, we feel guilty saying no, so we end up doing things that don't make us happy or use our unique talents and abilities.

This can be really detrimental in your creative endeavors if you are constantly taking on more than you can accomplish.

One tip is to take regular breaks from what you are doing.

It's good for your mind and prevents burnout.

There are multiple layers of break-taking.

• You can take a vacation: I recommend this at least once a year
• You can take an extended weekend : I recommend this at least once per quarter
• You can take a least one day off per week : I use Sundays as my day when I don't write a word
• You can take short breaks throughout the day : I recommend the Pomodoro technique

Taken altogether, these breaks can really help refresh your mind and spirit, which will prevent burnout.

Another great way to prevent burnout is simply trying new things.

Whether that's different writing styles, or just exploring techniques and methods you haven't tried before, you can turn burnout into an exciting time for your career.

For example, if you are burned out on blogging, it's a good idea to try podcasting.

Or if your style is too rigid and confining for you, try writing poetry or some other form of creative expression which does not require so many rules.

We need to challenge ourselves as writers by trying new things in order to continue growing and improving our craft.

As I mentioned above, dictation was one of these things that really helped me to reinvigorate my writing, and I'm sure there are many things like this that you can try to both prevent and recover from burnout.

Finally, and this is a big one, treat yourself now and then.

It's good to be disciplined with how we work, but it's also important that we reward ourselves for working well, otherwise we have no sense of success, and therefore no motivation.

This can be as simple as taking a day off when you finish a book, or going out to dinner on Friday night after you have accomplished everything you set out to do during the week.

Or it can be as big as going to the spa and getting a massage.

Just make sure that you don't choose rewards that are detrimental to your health, as this can increase your burnout. Examples would be too much drinking, or rewarding yourself with sugary snacks.

If you are experiencing burnout, don’t fret.

There is hope for you. Many authors have been in your situation and have overcome it.

You can do that too.

Start by applying some of the principles that I’ve outlined in this post, and I think you will already begin to see a difference.

The most important thing you can do as a writer is to take care of yourself. If you can always remember that, the writing will eventually take care of itself.

Jason Hamilton

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

• 9. Identify Your "Why"
• 5. Focus on the "One Thing"
• 6. Learn to Say "No"

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129 Burnout Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best burnout topic ideas & essay examples, ✍️ burnout essay topics for college, 🎓 interesting topics to write about burnout, ✅ good research topics about burnout, ❓ research questions about burnout.

• The Athena Bancorp Employees’ Burnout Issue To achieve success, a firm should select the strategy supported with the available resources and possess an improved understanding of the market and customers to generate a competitive advantage and create the basis for its […]
• Burnout Stress in Nursing Related With Lazarus and Folkman’s Theory According to Lazarus and Folkman, stress is the relationship existing between a person and the environment that compels the individual beyond resources and consequently endangering life. The theory of stress and coping helps individuals to […]
• Stress and Burnout in the Workplace This paper investigates the causes of stress and burnout in the workplace and suggests ways of minimizing stress and burnout. This will also result in stress and burnout, ultimately affecting the performance of the workers.
• Stress and Burnout in Organizations Stress may refer to a state of psychological and physical discomfort of an individual, which is derivative of the interaction of external and biological factors. This paper discusses the organizations’ and workers’ challenges related to […]
• Students & Burnout: A Critical Review Going by the research findings of the Finnish study, the author of this particular article does well to postulate that girls and boys react to school stress in different ways, but he is economical on […]
• Minimization of Nurse Burnout: Outcomes, Approach, and Budget The purpose of this paper is to introduce an approach reflected in the organization of yoga classes for health care providers and explain how it will contribute to the minimization of nurse burnout in clinical […]
• Preventing Nurse Burnout With Workplace Interventions This research will look at the origins and consequences of nurse burnout and identify strategies for preventing and managing burnout in the workplace.
• Professional Burnout Syndrome in Nurses Specifically, the studies aim to reexamine the problem of workplace burnout in the nursing context, identifying the issues that are likely to be the leading causes of the subject matter.
• COVID-19, Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout The second part of the hypothesis states that the levels of STS and BO among caretakers during the pandemic will be higher than before it.
• Nurses Burnout in the Emergency Department Team Before introducing the same approach proposed in this study, it is essential to inform nurses about the problem and the benefits of the intervention.
• Burnout Among Medical Workers During the Pandemic The primary parts of the study will be analyzed from the point of validity, methodology, relevance, and argumentativeness. It will enable the evaluation of the article and state what leads to burnout and how to […]
• Nursing Burnout in the Mental Health Field Therefore, burnout in the mental health field is a major problem because it has a high prevalence and affects the service delivery of employees in the mental health field.
• Burnout in ER Nurses: Biobehavioural Research Consequently, the study regarding ER nurses and the effect on their emotional stability was conducted to find out how the problem occurs and what are the common ways to avoid it.
• Law Enforcement Officers Overcoming Professional Burnout Hence, it becomes apparent how nervous and stressful the occupation of an Atlanta police officer is; this fact increases the need for seeking the most appropriate strategies to deal with professional burnout.
• The Buddy System Reducing Burnout Among Nurses The desired outcome for the buddy system implementation is the mitigation of nurses’ burnout. However, further comprehensive research is necessary for effective worldwide implementation of the buddy system to mitigate the nurses’ burnout.
• Psychotherapy Impact on Nursing Shortage and Burnout The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has, by all means, affected the patterns of providing quality care and the well-being of nurses in general.
• Resilience and Burnout in Nursing and Social Work The medical community inside is also full of stigmatizing situations, and because of this, nurses and social workers are forced to keep their fears and concerns to themselves.
• Skill Development for Burnout Prevention in New Nurses The practice gap that the project will address is related to the limited understanding of teamwork promotion in reducing burnout rates in new hospital nurses and the lack of guidelines that would summarize burnout prevention […]
• Burnout Among Nursing Staff and Its Negative Effects The purpose of this work is to identify the ways to overcome the state of burnout among nursing staff while simultaneously considering the prerequisites for its development.
• Healthcare Workers’ Burnout Sources and Solutions The article “The science of health care worker burnout” by Rehder, Adair, and Sexton will be used to highlight how the subject of a study can be explained to an audience through proper usage of […]
• Healthcare Burnout and Its Impact It is challenging to get a precise and accurate picture of the prevalence of burnout in the general public due to the lack of a universally agreed diagnosis of the phenomenon of burnout, its complex […]
• The Relationship Between Workload and Burnout Among Nurses The research question was to determine the main factor provoking the development of burnout; for the answer, there was a task in the form of a quantitative measurement of burnout level.
• Nursing Burnout During COVID-19 Pandemic At the heart of nurses’ burnout due to understaffing is the principle of competing needs, forcing them to disregard their psycho-emotional state to save patients with COVID-19.
• The Nurse Burnout Issue and Rational Solutions The effective and responsible performance of nursing duties requires compliance with a wide range of conditions regarding both the professional duties for this type of activity and the moral and ethical principles of work.
• The Burnout Impact on Nursing Practice Therefore, the purpose of the analysis is to fully comprehend the concept of burnout and its relation to one’s health. The concept of burnout has a similar meaning in considerable fields.
• Nurse Burnout and Leading Factors Thus, particular attention will be on the causes of nurse burnout and the factors of the work environment that lead to this condition.
• Employee Stress and Burnout at the Workplace This is done by giving outbreaks to those actively involved in the manufacture of the products and giving leaves for some time; the company has also created shift sessions that allow specified workers to take […]
• Burnout Syndrome Among Psychiatric Nurses There is a need to review the prevalence of burnout syndrome in psychiatric nurses to address this issue. In addition, it would also help organizations to identify the contributing factors of burnout and address them.
• Nursing Burnout as Silent Pandemic The American Nurses Association believes that nurses are vital to the health of the nation. The present paper proposes better staffing as a response to the silent pandemic that is nursing burnout.
• The Nursing Burnout: Causes and Consequences However, the lack of staff and the need to serve more patients leads to overwork of professionals and burnout. However, there is no study in the literature that looks at the effect of burnout on […]
• Nursing Burnout and Turnover Problems There are disparate strategies to mitigate burnout and turnover to retain nurses. The hospital can balance patient-to-nurse ratios to reduce burnout and turnover.
• Coping Strategies for Burnout and Turnover in Nurses Allowing nurses to transition between roles and improving their orientation and workplace environment all contribute to reducing the likelihood of their turnover. Such an approach would allow nurses to “…control clinical decision-making and, with managers, […]
• Critical Appraisal: Fatigue, Burnout, Work Environment The purpose of the study is to investigate the real-world application of literature on nurse fatigue, with information being useful on developing a support environment to reduce nurse fatigue considering that nursing burnout is commonly […]
• Nursing Burnout and Implications for Nursing Profession Against this backdrop, this study will seek to establish the factors behind high cases of burnout syndrome in the nursing profession and the implications therein.
• The Burnout in a Sample of Nurses Unfortunately, Garrosa, Rainho, Moreno-Jimenez and Monteiro, authors of “The relationship between job stressors, hardy personality, coping resources and burnout in a sample of nurses: A correlational study at two time points,” do not address the […]
• Nurse Burnout Across Army Hospital Practice Environments The authors of this article correctly note that American Army nurses have been deployed to some of the most dangerous parts of the world in the recent past due to the heightened need for global […]
• Mindfulness-Based Stress and Burnout Reduction in Nurses The qualitative stage of the study involved the analysis of 46 documents that were used to collect data from the study participants.
• Nursing Burnout: Increased Stress Experienced by Nurses The relevance of the key points in this paper has to do with the increased stress experienced by nurses working for more than one agency and serving many clients.
• Study-Work Conflict and the Risk of Burnout Among the first of the core, findings is that being married or a single parent does not seem to raise the odds of work-study conflict though this conclusion may have been weakened by the fact […]
• Employees’ Stress and Burnout One of the problems emanating from stress and burnout is the reduced productivity among employees and ultimately to the organization. This indicates how stress and burnout are devastating to both the organization and employees.
• Burnout and Staff Turnover: Substance Abuse Counseling The counselor explains the rules and procedures to the patient, monitors the patient’s performance, and participates in the use of sanctions to obtain patient compliance.
• Preventing Burnout in Preschool Teachers This follows with a decline in the immunity of the individual to fight the various common illnesses such as common cold, flu etc and in some cases gives rise to the blood pressure problem in […]
• Preschool Teacher Burnout Prevention This Qualitative study aims to come up with a design for a Stress Management Program for preschool teachers to be presented to school administrators in support of their greatest asset their teachers.
• Burnout as a Mental Health Issue in the Workplace The first step to address such a problem should be inducing and promoting employees’ awareness of both personal needs and healthy mental practices.
• Burnout in Sports Among Young Female Gymnasts Stress, anxiety, the necessity to develop professional skills, commitment, and motivation are primary psychological issues in sports performance; however, the problem of burnout or overtraining remains one of the most significant and serious concerns among […]
• Organizational Concern: Job Stress and Burnout Researchers cannot exclude the influence of personal life stress on work, as depression and burnout may cause each other due to their interconnection.
• Spiritual Life: Avoiding Stress Burnout All I want to do is to be kind to people and believe that these people will be also kind to me.
• ICU Nurses: Reducing Burnout and Increasing Job Satisfaction The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention aimed at reducing burnout and increase ICU nurses’ job satisfaction.
• Harm Reduction and Professional Burnout in Nurse Practice These ideologies imply the creation and maintenance of specific ideas, vision, mission, and goals that are to be achieved in medical institutions, especially those paying precise attention to substance abuse prevention and decreasing the treatment […]
• Burnout, Compassion Fatigue and Stress at Workplace Screening of professional quality of life and its analysis can be useful for the evaluation of a person’s condition and development of personal characteristics that can support compassion satisfaction and reduce the risk of burnout […]
• Burnout in Human Services, Its Causes and Prevention For instance, if workers develop Burnout because of the monotony of work, it is the responsibility of the supervisors to seek an alternative assignment for the worker in question.
• Special Education Teachers’ Burnout and Turnover It is a commonly accepted fact that the retention of teachers in their positions is a crucial area for research; however, the retention of special education teachers is of primary concern in the majority of […]
• Reflective Learning and Nursing Burnout The purpose of this evidence-based project is to evaluate the impact of the adaptation of reflective learning on nursing burnout in managing cardiac patients in a coronary care unit of King Fahad Medical City in […]
• King Fahad Medical City: Burnout Among Nurses The purpose of this evidence-based project is to evaluate the impact of the adaptation of reflective learning on nursing burnout in managing cardiac patients in a coronary care unit of King Fahad Medical City in […]
• The Caregiver Burnout and Long-Term Stress The physical and emotional exhaustion can lead to the situation when the caregiver cannot help the client because of symptoms of the burnout.
• Emotional Intelligence, Burnout, and Job Insecurity In order to measure the place of EI as assessed by the 33-item self-report scale in the context of the big-five structure, scores on the 33-item scale were associated with the big-five personality aspects. In […]
• Burnout in Professional Therapists As established in the study, burnout among the therapists engaged in the sample increased in consistency with an increase in the levels of interpersonal problems.
• Work Burnout Intervention in the Hospitality Industry Burnout in the industry is the result of a build up of anxiety and stress that last for long periods of time; and sometimes the stress and anxiety may be build within a short period […]
• Correlation Between Burnout and Test Taking Failures
• What Leaders Can Do to Mitigate Burnout
• What Is Burnout, and How Can You Cope With It
• Executive Burnout Symptoms
• Teacher Burnout: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
• Combating Caregiver Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
• Career Burnout and Its Effect on Health
• Faculty Burnout Is Everyone’s Problem to Solve
• Burnout and Stress Measurement in Police Officers
• Managing Stress and How to Avoid Teacher Burnout
• Dealing With Stress and Burnout in the Workplace
• The Relationship Between Burnout, Depression, and Anxiety
• Burnout, Depression, and Borderline Personality
• Career Burnout and Its Advantages and Disadvantages
• Burnout: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
• The Relationship Among Stress Related to Online Learning, Resilience, and Coping
• Burnout, Absenteeism, and the Overtime Decision
• Why Too Much Overtime Is Causing Employee Burnout
• What Is Nurse Burnout and How Do I Manage It
• Strategies to Help HR Professionals Overcome Burnout
• How to Avoid Burnout & Survive Long Term in Digital Marketing
• Parental Burnout: What It Is and How to Cope
• Managing Burnout When Caring for Someone With BPD
• Burnout Prevention and Treatment
• Burnout: Emotional Exhaustion and Self-Regulatory Goal
• Burnout in School Principals: Role Related Antecedents
• Compassion Fatigue, Empathy Burnout for Health Care Workers
• Coping With Faculty Burnout in the Pandemic
• Turning Burnout Into Balance: Profiling the Post-pandemic
• How Working Parents Can Spot Signs of Burnout
• What Burnout Looks Like for a Small Business Owner
• Death Anxiety, Depression, and Coping in Family Caregivers
• Burnout and Its Relation to Interpersonal Challenges
• Overscheduling Activities Can Cause Burn-Out for Children and Parents
• Altruism and Burnout and Pay It Forward Philosophy
• Job Burnout: How to Spot It and Take Action
• Connection Between Burnout and Emotional Intelligence
• Coping With Stress and Burnout Associated With Telecommunication and Online Learning
• Burnout in College: What Causes It and How to Avoid It
• How Do Burnout and Stress Affect How Employees Handle Retirement Readiness Decisions
• How Do You Explain Burnout?
• What Is Your Insight About Burnout?
• How to Solve the Problems of Burnout, Absenteeism and Overtime?
• What Is the Cause of Burnout?
• What Is the Greatest Risk Factor for Burnout?
• How Do You Deal With Burnout in Life?
• What Are Common Signs of Burnout?
• How Do You Explain Burnout to a Friend?
• What Is an Example of Nursing Burnout?
• How Does Nursing Staffing Affect Nurse Job Satisfaction and Burnout?
• Do Human Relationships Affect Professional Burnout?
• How to Minimize Professional Burnout?
• Does Self-Efficacy Moderate the Relationship Between Job Stress and Burnout?
• Who Suffers From Burnout the Most?
• Why Is It Important to Prevent Burnouts?
• Is Burnout an Individual Problem?
• What Are Some Consequences of Burnout on Both an Individual and an Organization?
• What Is the Relationship Between Burnout and Organizational Commitment?
• How to Measure Burnout and Stress Syndrome in Police Officers?
• How Does Burnout Affect the Body?
• What Is the Connection Between Burnout and Work Efficiency?
• Does Burnout Affect Your Thinking?
• Where Is Burnout Most Common?
• How Do You Treat a Burnout Without Quitting?
• What Profession Has the Lowest Burnout Rate?
• How Do You Refresh Your Brain After Burnout?
• Can Burnout Become Permanent?
• What Is the Percentage of Career Burnout Among Working People?
• Can a Caregiver Get Burnout and Compassion Fatigue?
• What Measures Can Be Undertaken to Prevent Burnout?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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