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Understanding Burnout vs. Stress
Some people may not know the difference between stress and burnout. The two are intertwined, but they are experienced quite differently. Significant stress that accumulates and persists over time increases the likelihood of experiencing burnout. Recurring stress symptoms can lead to chronic stress, which impacts physical, emotional, and mental health. Burnout is typically associated with an accumulation of workplace stress; however, burnout can occur as a result of not only workplace stress, but a combination of life stressors as well.
Stress often feels like having too much on your plate. Burnout, on the other hand, feels like having nothing left to give. People experiencing stress may still feel motivated to push through challenges, whereas people experiencing burnout often feel emotionally exhausted, detached, and unmotivated.
What Does Stress Look Like?
Stress is typically perpetuated by external factors that increase people’s need or desire to complete tasks. For example, if you are a student, you might be stressed about a paper deadline or an upcoming exam. Maybe you also need to work while going to school, so there is financial stress around making ends meet. Then, there is work-related stress, which can involve deadlines, responsibilities, decision-making, or other demands depending on your role. Maybe you also have children and need to tend to their needs on top of taking care of your own.
Not all stress is bad. As mentioned, stress can propel us forward in life and motivate us to take care of the things that need to be taken care of. However, if the stressful events in our lives continue for an extended period without adequate rest or recovery, we may reach a point of burnout.
Signs of Burnout
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that occurs when stress has accumulated for too long without adequate recovery. It often leaves people feeling depleted, detached, and unable to cope with demands that once felt manageable.
After going through each day managing our stressors, we may come to a point where we feel like we just can’t do it anymore. One day you wake up and think, I can’t get out of bed today, or I can’t go to work because I’m exhausted. You may push through those thoughts and carry on anyway, but that’s often when things begin to get worse.
Your emotional state can be impacted. You might react negatively to a coworker’s comment about you looking tired and find yourself crying or becoming angry. Your performance at work may decline. Your schoolwork might suffer. The attention that your children typically receive from you may also be affected. Burnout is ultimately your body’s way of signalling that you may need to take something off your plate and slow down.
You don’t really know what burnout is until you truly experience it, but there are ways to assess where you might be on the path toward it. It is normal to experience stress in day-to-day life, but when stress starts to accumulate across every area of your life, that’s when it may be helpful to step back, look at your plate, and consider what might need adjusting.
What Helps?
Create a Priority List
One of the things that I find helpful is making a priority list. What are the non-negotiables in your life from day to day? For example, work might be number one on your list, followed by school and then your children. However, the order will look different for everyone depending on what you value most and where you want to direct your energy.
It is also important to prioritize the things that bring you joy. Often, when we become overwhelmed, the first things to disappear are the activities that help us feel rested, connected, and fulfilled.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Setting boundaries takes prioritizing a step further. After you create your priority list, something else might come up, such as a social event with friends. It sounds enticing, but if you know you work early the next day and have already had a long, busy day filled with other priorities, skipping out on the social event might be exactly what you need to ensure you get the rest your body requires.
On the other hand, if socializing is high on your priority list because it helps you recharge, you might decide to say yes to the invitation and enjoy yourself, while still being mindful of an appropriate bedtime so that you can maintain your priorities the next day. Boundaries are not always about saying no to others—they are about saying yes to what matters most to you
Seek Workplace Burnout Help
If you are unable to manage your symptoms on your own, it is always a good idea to reach out for support. At OK Clinical, our therapists provide counselling for individuals experiencing stress or burnout. You do not have to navigate these feelings on your own.
Additionally, many workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides immediate, short-term support for stress, burnout, and other mental health concerns. Accessing workplace burnout help through an EAP can be a great first step toward getting additional support.
Final Thoughts
While stress is a normal part of life, burnout is often a sign that something needs to change. If you are noticing that stress is accumulating across multiple areas of your life and you feel emotionally or physically exhausted, it may be time to reassess your responsibilities, seek support, and prioritize your well-being. You don’t have to wait until you’re completely overwhelmed before making adjustments.
Resources
- An overview of burnout according to the Canadian Psychological Association: https://cpa.ca/docs/File/Publications/FactSheets/FS_WorkplaceBurnout_EN_2021.pdf
Ready for Support?
You don’t have to wait until you’re completely overwhelmed to seek support. If stress or burnout is affecting your daily life, relationships, work, or overall well-being, counselling can help.
The therapists at OK Clinical Therapy Group provide compassionate, evidence-based support for individuals experiencing stress, burnout, and other mental health concerns. Together, we can help you identify what’s contributing to your stress, develop practical coping strategies, and work toward a healthier, more balanced life.
Ready to get started? Reach out to OK Clinical Therapy Group today to book an appointment and take the first step toward prioritizing your well-being.
Website: www.okclinical.com
Phone: (250) 718-9291 (call or text)
Email: [email protected]
Written by: Brittni Pluta
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