3 basic characteristics of burnout.

Besides sleep, I love talking about performance and mental health because I know that they affect our sleep. So, I want to talk to you about burnout. This is an occupational phenomenon defined as: "physical, mental and emotional exhaustion resulting from exposure to high levels of stress, at work, for prolonged periods" [1].

The incidence of burnout has grown exponentially in the last decade, affecting more than half of workers in developed countries [2]. Faced with this worrying situation, I think is crucial to talk about it and the three main characteristics of this phenomenon so you can identify t and ask for help when necessary.

Basic characteristics:

· Exhaustion.

Perhaps the main characteristic of burnout is exhaustion. It could be called "extreme exhaustion," where everything becomes an odyssey, even the most straightforward task. Therefore, it is a state that goes beyond physical fatigue; it is the complete wear of our mental, emotional and physical capacity. In addition, it is a fatigue that we cannot quickly get rid of, even when we take time to rest and get enough sleep.

> Detachment.

When our capacities have reached their limits, people with burnout begin to distance and detach themselves from everything important to them: work, interpersonal relationships, among others.

In my opinion, this is a protection mechanism, where the person is so exhausted that they find it impossible to deal with anything that involves an additional effort, even if it is minimal.

However, it is not only detachment; this disinterest can also appear as cynical and negative attitudes towards everything.

> Negative self-evaluation.

When burnout occurs, people begin to minimize their achievements and exaggerate their failures at work. Therefore, they maintain a negative self-assessment where nothing is good enough, and any mistakes are seen as disastrous. This, combined with reduced performance - as a result of chronic exhaustion - is the perfect formula for staying emotionally drained, creating a vicious cycle of exhaustion.

In conclusion, burnout is an occupational phenomenon resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of stress that results in: 1) physical, mental and emotional exhaustion; 2) detachment, cynicism, or negative attitude towards different areas of our life (even those that are important) and 3) a constant negative self-evaluation.

I hope this serves as an introductory guide to burnout and allows you to identify the three essential characteristics of this phenomenon in such a way that you can treat it prematurely if you were to experience it or be around it.

Sweet dreams!

References

• [1] - World Health Organization. (2021) Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Clasfification of Diseases. Recuperado de https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases

• [2] - Robinson, B. (2019). The 2019 Rise In Job Stress And Burnout. Recuperado de https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-2019-rise-in-job-stress-and-burnout/