Almost everyone has a busy period at work now and then. But when is work stress normal, and when is it a sign that you have been crossing your limits for too long?
Work stress: temporary and recoverable
Work stress is your body's normal response to excessive workload. You feel tense, you sleep less well, you have little energy. But after a quieter weekend or holiday you recover. That recovery is the key: with work stress, the resilience is still there.
Burnout: recovery no longer happens
Burnout is the result of prolonged overload in which the capacity to recover has been exhausted. You are tired, but sleep does not help. You can no longer concentrate. Small things take a disproportionate amount of energy. Work feels meaningless. This distinguishes burnout from ordinary work stress: recovery no longer happens on its own.
Three core symptoms of burnout
Psychologists distinguish three features: exhaustion (chronic fatigue that does not pass), cynicism or emotional distance from work, and a reduced sense of personal effectiveness. When all three are present, it is burnout and not 'ordinary stress'.
How long does recovery take?
This varies greatly. With mild burnout it can take three to six months. With severe burnout, sometimes a year or longer. The earlier you act, the shorter the recovery. That is why recognising the signs early is so important.
What to do?
Bringing work and rest into better balance is step one, but it rarely resolves the underlying patterns. Therapy, such as CBT or ACT, helps you understand why you keep crossing your limits and how to break that. A first intake conversation with a psychologist is a good start.
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