Burnout is a condition that comes with long-term, unresolved stress that can negatively affect your job and your life in general. Between changing work environments, balancing expectations of working from home, and tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, many are mentally and physically exhausted. For this reason, burnout emerges as a syndrome that is increasing day by day.

5 Stages of Burnout

Burnout is not a sudden onset of emotion. Instead, your thoughts, feelings, and actions go through a series of stages. The first stages may not seem like much. However, it can seriously affect your life in the future. For this reason, you should know about the 5 stages of burnout and take the necessary precautions as soon as you notice it.

Phase 1: Honeymoon Phase

This phase comes with energy and optimism. Its symptoms are as follows:

• Free flowing creativity
• Job satisfaction
• Commitment to the job at hand
• High productivity levels
• Obligation to prove oneself
• Easily accept responsibility
• Continuous energy levels
• Unbridled optimism

Stage 2: Stress Stage

The honeymoon phase decreases and you begin to experience stress. Not every second of your day is stressful, but there are more frequent times when stress prevails.

Burnout stress phase are as follows:

• Irritability
• Headache
• Unusual heart rhythms
• Job dissatisfaction
• Avoid making decisions
• Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality
• Inability to focus
• Lack of social interaction
• High blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Heart palpitations
• Lower productivity
• Change in appetite or diet
• Grinding your teeth at night
• Burnout
• Forgetfulness
• General neglect of personal needs

Stage 3: Chronic Stress Stage

It is a point at which stress becomes more persistent or chronic. As the pressure builds, the stress is likely to affect your work consistently.

Burnout syndrome are as follows:

• Lack of hobby
• Indifference
• Missed work deadlines and/or goals
• Procrastination at work and at home
• Sarcastic attitude
• Feeling threatened or panicked
• Increased alcohol/drug consumption
• Being late for recurring work
• Resentment
• Social withdrawal from friends and/or family
• Feeling pressured or out of control
• Physical illness
• Increased caffeine consumption
• Constant tiredness in the morning
• Adoption of activities that escape reality
• Anger or aggressive behavior
• Chronic fatigue
• Decreased sexual desire
• Denial of problems at work or at home

Stage 4: Burnout Stage

This stage is when you have reached your limit and can no longer work as you normally would. Problems at work begin to consume you to the point where you obsess about them. Sometimes you may feel numb and have extreme self-doubt.

Burnout phase are as follows:

• Obsession with problems at work or life
• Physical symptoms intensify and/or increase
• Continuation or increase of activities escaping from reality
• Self-doubt
• Desire to leave society
• The development of a mindset that runs away from reality
• Feeling of emptiness inside
• Social Isolation
• Desire to be away from work or friends/family
• Behavior changes
• A pessimistic view of work and life
• Chronic headaches
• Chronic stomach or intestinal problems
• Complete neglect of personal needs

Stage 5: Habitual Burnout Stage

Burnout is left untreated; it can become a part of your daily life and eventually lead to anxiety or depression. You may also begin to experience chronic mental and physical fatigue that prevents you from working. The symptoms of the habitual burnout phase are as follows:

• Chronic mental fatigue
• Chronic sadness
• Burnout syndrome
• Chronic physical fatigue
• Depression

Physical symptoms are as follows:

• Experiencing a change in appetite
• Dealing with a headache or muscle pain
• Feeling tired
• Having trouble sleeping

Emotional symptoms are as follows:

• Failure or loneliness
• A general feeling of dissatisfaction
• Lack of motivation
• Experiencing feelings of self-doubt

Behavioral symptoms are as follows:

• Outbursts of work-related anger
• Not fulfilling their responsibilities
• Social Isolation