Burnout 

Burnout is often called the “epidemic of the modern workplace”, one that appears to keep growing each passing day (Knight). In fact, with the rise in people working from home, it becomes harder to draw that necessary line between work and rest, leading many to become another victim to the burnout spreading across modern workplaces. As such, it is all more important for people to understand what burnout is and how to combat it. 

 

In 1947, psychologist Herbert Freudenberger defined the term “burnout” as “the loss of motivation, growing sense of emotional depletion, and cynicism” (Michel). It presents itself as both mental and physical exhaustion. While people can start off with high motivation for a specific job, if the task demands more effort than a person can reasonably contribute, it can lead to a loss of that motivation and burnout. Heidi Grant Halvorson, a social psychologist, says, “It can lead you to feel lethargic, stressed, and depleted — literally spent” (Knight).

 

While it is easy to say to not overwork yourself, as teens and young adults, it can be difficult to know where to set the limit. By understanding what burnout is, how it affects you, and how you can recover from it, you can be more prepared to face burnout and recover your motivation.