“Burnout” is a word we hear more and more often, but what does it actually mean?
Burnout is a psychological condition that involves feeling emotionally exhausted, cynical or disconnected from your job, and ineffective or as though you are not achieving anything.
Burnout develops when the pressures of work become too intense for too long. Over time, chronic stress can leave people feeling emotionally drained, detached, and doubtful of their own abilities. In 2019, the World Health Organisation formally recognised burnout as an ‘occupational phenomenon’ denoting that burnout results from unmanaged work stress and not from personal weakness.
A recent study by Dr Patrick Carr and Dr Shane Kelly (2023) highlights that medical doctors are particularly at risk. Long working hours, rising patient demands, administrative burden, emotional strain and insufficient time for rest and recovery all contribute. In Ireland, a survey during the pandemic found that 90% of doctors had experienced depression, anxiety, or stress linked to their work. Almost 70% were considered at high risk of burnout.
Although Carr & Kelly’s (2023) article focused on GPs and hospital doctors, burnout can affect anyone, in any profession or walk of life. Understanding burnout can help us all recognise it and respond early.
Many people who experience burnout describe it as ‘not feeling like themselves’ anymore. If you recognise these feelings, you are not alone.
Burnout often makes anger feel much closer to the surface. We can behave in ways that are not typical of us – we become impatient, irritable, quick to anger and not because we are bad people but because we are running on empty. When our emotional reserves are depleted, even small irritations can feel like major threats. We might even shout at our children and this is not typical of us (I’ve written about that here). Recognising these early signs in ourselves like our raised voice, or loss of patience, the feeling of being constantly ‘on edge’ – is crucial. These are warning signs – like our bodies waving red flags – telling us that we are no longer coping, that we are in need of rest, support and in need of change, not further endurance.
Becoming more human about burnout means allowing ourselves to notice these signals with honesty and compassion, rather than waiting until we completely fall apart. Recognising our own humanity and our limits is not weakness; it is wisdom.
Doctors carry an enormous emotional and professional burden. Delivering bad news, supporting anxious patients, facing illness and loss, and, managing ever-growing workloads is deeply demanding.
When doctors are burned out, it is not only their health that suffers, but patient care can be affected too. Burnout is linked to a higher risk of errors, lower quality care, and lower job satisfaction. Protecting the wellbeing of Irish medical doctors is essential for everyone.
Prioritise basic self-care: Eat, sleep and hydrate. These seem obvious, but are often the first things neglected when under pressure.
Set realistic boundaries: Perfection is not the goal. Doing your best is enough.
Ask for help: Support from colleagues, counselling, or professional services can make a positive difference.
Take real breaks: Short breaks during the day and longer holidays promote recovery.
Reconnect with meaning: Remember why you chose this work and reconnect with your purpose.
There is value in creating a culture of support at work, where teamwork, open conversations, and peer mentoring are encouraged.
As mentioned, burnout is a natural response to prolonged, unmanaged stress. None of us is impervious – anyone can experience burnout.
Feeling worn down, overwhelmed, or disconnected does not mean you are weak – it means you are human. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is essential for you and for those you serve, whether as a doctor, healthcare provider, in your team at work, or your family.
Burnout is not a medical condition, but a workplace issue. Solving it requires organisational changes and not simply encouraging individual doctors to become more resilient.
“Burnout is like the canary in the coal mine. It is a warning sign of a toxic environment. The solution is to fix the environment, not to toughen up the canary” Dr Christina Maslach
In other words, healthcare leaders and policymakers must address the root causes of burnout; otherwise doctors may leave Ireland for better working conditions abroad.
Carr, P., & Kelly, S. (2023). Burnout in Doctors Practising in Ireland Post Covid-19. Irish medical journal, 116(4), 761.
Maslach C. (2019) Understanding Job Burnout. Youtube: IT Revolution.
I was recently discussing ‘burnout,’ and the person I was speaking with mentioned that the term seems to be used far too loosely these days. He observed that people say they’re experiencing burnout when busy at work or feeling worn out after Christmas parties. This casual use of the term caught my attention because, in my practice, I use ‘burnout’ in a clinical sense. When people come to me with burnout, they’re often signed off work by their GP and face a long and challenging road to recovery. While it’s valuable that awareness of stress is increasing, it’s crucial to recognise that true clinical burnout is far more serious than general exhaustion.
Burnout is a medical and clinical condition with serious implications for mental and physical health. Clinical burnout, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by three core features: persistent feelings of emotional and physical exhaustion, a sense of detachment or cynicism towards one’s job and a reduced ability to perform effectively. Unlike general fatigue, clinical burnout develops over time and does not simply disappear after a good night’s sleep or a short break. It requires careful attention and often structured intervention to address.
Although the term ‘burnout’ is now used rather casually to describe being overworked or tired, these experiences don’t align with the clinical definition. While the casual use of the term reflects a growing awareness of stress, it can dilute the seriousness of burnout. This overuse may make it harder for people experiencing clinical burnout to be recognised and supported. Importantly, burnout in its clinical sense is not a sign of personal weakness or failure but rather the result of systemic issues such as chronic stress, excessive workloads, lack of support and environments that fail to prioritise employee well-being.
Clinical burnout develops when workplace stress becomes unmanageable and unrelenting. It often arises in environments with excessive demands, little autonomy, inadequate support, or a mismatch between personal values and organisational culture. These factors combine over time, eroding resilience and making recovery increasingly difficult. Unlike occasional stress, which can sometimes be motivating, burnout represents a prolonged and harmful state that affects both mental and physical health.
The symptoms of burnout are far-reaching and can impact every aspect of everyday life. Emotionally, people may feel drained, irritable or even hopeless. Cognitively, people may struggle to focus or with decision-making or memory, which can add to feelings of frustration. Physically, symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches and sleep disturbances often emerge. Behaviourally, people may withdraw from social connections, procrastinate, or avoid responsibilities altogether. Burnout can profoundly affect relationships and self-esteem, leading to feelings of failure and disconnection from others.
Addressing burnout requires a multifaceted approach that includes both individual and systemic changes. Therapy can provide a safe space to explore the underlying issues contributing to burnout, develop coping mechanisms, and rebuild resilience. Rest and recovery are essential because burnout cannot be resolved by simply pushing through it – people need time, space, and patience to heal. Systemic workplace adjustments are often necessary, including reducing excessive demands, establishing clear boundaries, and fostering supportive environments. Self-care practices such as mindfulness, regular exercise and reconnecting with activities that bring joy can also play a crucial role in recovery.
Burnout is not a reflection of personal failure. It’s a complex response to prolonged, unrelenting stress, often shaped by factors outside of individual control. Understanding burnout means recognising its key symptoms: emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a reduced sense of accomplishment. These aren’t signs of weakness but signals from your body and mind that your current demands exceed your resources.
Addressing burnout starts with self-awareness and support. Prioritising emotional and mental health isn’t just self-care—it’s a fundamental necessity for thriving. This might mean setting boundaries, seeking workplace accommodations, or rethinking unsustainable systems in your life. However, proper recovery also requires systemic change. Organisations and communities must create environments where wellbeing is central, not optional.
If you or someone you know is experiencing burnout, reaching out to a mental health professional can provide guidance, validation and strategies for recovery. You don’t have to face it alone – healing and recovery are possible, and your well-being is worth the effort.
For further information, here’s a handy guide to an NHS booklet about Burnout
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The corporate world is a fast-paced and competitive space where bright and hardworking people thrive. However, it typically comes with high expectations, tight deadlines and unrelenting pressure. I used to say “leave work at work” however for many, work starts again when children are in bed when the laptop comes out to respond to emails or chat with colleagues States-side. For anyone with perfectionistic tendencies, the drive for excellence can be counterproductive, creating unnecessary stress and anxiety when already working super hard or at capacity. Here are some tips to help manage stress, maintain productivity and find balance.
1. Understand How Personality Affects Stress
Perfectionists and highly demanding individuals often hold themselves and those around them, to exceptionally high standards. While this can lead to outstanding results, it can often make us overly critical of ourselves and of others; it can lead to increased anxiety from focusing only on what’s wrong rather than what’s going right; it can also lead to overcommitment and eventually to burnout. Spend time reflecting on how your personality influences your stress levels. Are you striving for perfection when “good enough” would be enough? Recognising this tendency is a first step towards positive change.
2. Redefine Success
Perfectionism can create a paralysing fear of failure or dissatisfaction with anything less than flawless. the solution is to shift your focus from perfect outcomes to valuable progress. Ask yourself: “What is the minimum effective outcome for this task?” Sometimes, good enough really is good enough. Focus on delivering results rather than obsessing over every minute detail.
Perfection isn’t always practical. If 90% is enough to drive matters forward, then please don’t waste your time chasing the final 10%.
3. Manage Expectations
High performers can expect others to have a matchinglevel of intensity and/or precision, leading to frustration and interpersonal tension when colleagues/your team don’t play by your rules or meet your expectations. The solution is to practice flexibility and empathy in all of your interactions. Recognise that others can have different strengths, priorities, and working styles. Set realistic deadlines and goals for yourself and your team. Again by focusing on the outcomes, and not micromanagement you will encourage autonomy and reduce your own stress while empowering others.
4. Prioritise
Perfectionists and overachievers tend to treat all tasks as equally important. This is just a waste of time and effort. Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to determine which tasks are:
Urgent and important: tend to these first.
Important but not urgent: schedule these.
Urgent and not important: delegate or minimise.
Neither urgent nor important: disregad completely.
Let go of low-value tasks that don’t meaningfully contribute to your goals.
5. Mistakes are Growthful
Perfectionists can fear mistakes, viewing them as failures rather than opportunities to learn. Reframe mistakes as valuable feedback. Take the lesson – “What did I learn from this?” “How can I improve?” Share your mistakes with others because it humanises you and it will build trust. Innovation thrives on trial and error. Mistakes can be necessary for breakthroughs.
6. Practice Self-Compassion
I am a bore about self-compassion! Talk to yourself as you would another about whom you care/love. High achievers or perfectionists are often their own harshest critics. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you’d offer a friend. Replace self-critical thoughts with affirmations like, “I’m doing my best right now.” Acknowledge successes, even small ones, instead of dwelling on what didn’t go perfectly. Write down three things you did well each day. This helps to shift focus from shortcomings to accomplishments – develop an attitude of gratitude.
7. Boundaries Protect Energy
Perfectionists typically overcommit and take on too much in an effort to meet every demand. Learning how to say “no” and set boundaries will help to avoid burnout. Identify tasks or responsibilities that don’t align with your values/priorities and politely decline them. Create “work-free” zones or times to protect your personal time and recharge. Walk out of the office to look at the sky and return with fresh air in your lungs (not accurate but you’ll get my drift!) Practice saying ‘no’ by framing things positively: “I’d love to help with that task but I have to focus on [xxxxxxx] to give it my best effort.”
8. Delegate Without Perfectionism
Delegating can be tough because others won’t meet your standards. Trust your team. Empower others to take ownership. Focus on communicating clear goals, objectives and expectations (instead of micromanaging how the work gets done). Accept that others will approach tasks differently from you and do things their way and that’s okay! They are not you. Delegation is a leadership skill. By letting go, you create space for strategic work and reduce stress.
9. Use Mindfulness
Racing thoughts and constant demands can make stress feel unmanageable. Incorporate mindfulness techniques to stay grounded and focused. Try box breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and hold for 4 seconds. Use mindfulness apps during your breaks at work and make breaks for their use such as Headspace or Calm or the Mindshift CBT Mindfulness isn’t about clearing your mind of all thoughts (not sure how that could be achieved), it’s really about trying to bring an awareness to the present moment without judgement.
10. Recognise When Perfectionism Hinders Efficiency
Spending excessive time refining tasks that are already complete delays progress and increases stress. Set time limits for perfectionist tendencies. You might allocate a set amount of time to polish a presentation or proofread a report, then move on. You might ask yourself: “Will anyone notice the difference if I spend another hour on this?” and if not, it’s time to let go. While having every bullet point the same size or every full stop is necessary it’s not worth losing sleep over. Progress is more important than perfection. Done is often better than perfect.
11. Build Resilience Through Self-Care
Neglecting your well-being in pursuit of success depletes your energy and focus. Invest in physical and mental health through consistent self-care. Get regular exercise to reduce tension and improve focus. Prioritise sleep and ensure no late-night perfectionism sessions! Nourish your body with healthy meals instead of relying on caffeine or sugar for energy. Schedule self-care like you would an important meeting. Protect that time as non-negotiable.
12. Redefine Feedback as a Growth Opportunity
Highly driven people often see constructive criticism as a sign of failure. Reframe all or any feedback as an opportunity for improvement. Actively seek feedback to gain perspective and build stronger outcomes. Separate your work from you and your identity. Criticism of a task isn’t criticism of you as a person!
You might try to celebrate feedback by thanking the person for their input and reflecting on how it can help or benefit you. I don’t like criticism because I am a human – no one likes criticism but it’s healthy to be challenged on our frame of reference and to learn about how others view matters. That’s growthful. Thinking we know everything is having a very fixed mindset.
13. Celebrate Progress
Perfectionists might focus only on what’s left to achieve, neglecting how far they’ve come. So always keep an eye and acknowledge all the milestones along the way. Break big projects into smaller goals and celebrate their completion. Create a “wins journal” to track daily or weekly accomplishments, regardless of how small. Progress breeds momentum. Recognising achievements helps maintain motivation and reduces stress.
14. Develop a Resilient Mindset
Stress often stems from negative thinking patterns, like catastrophising or focusing on the worst-case scenarios. Reframe challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Ask yourself, “what’s the best outcome?” or “what if this works out well?” Focus on solutions rather than dwelling on challenges or problems. Build mental resilience by practicing gratitude and every day list three things you’re thankful for particularly during tough times.
15. Know When to Seek Support
Bright, hardworking professionals often feel they should handle stress on their own, fearing it might appear as a weakness to ask for help. Peopel come into my clinic and say I can’t believe I’m here and couldn’t manage by myself. Recognise that seeking support is a sign of strength. Talk to a trusted colleague, mentor or work place coach about challenges you’re facing. If stress persists, consider professional help from a therapist, counsellor/psychotherapist/psychologist who specialises in corporate environments. Please don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed. Seeking support early can prevent stress from escalating.
Aim for Balance – perfectionism can be an asset in the corporate world, as it drives exceptional results. However, when left unchecked, it can lead to anxiety, stress, and burnout. By recognising when perfectionism isn’t advantageous, embrace progress over perfection, and prioritise self-care, we will ensure balance in our lives without sacrificing our emotional and/or physical health and wellbeing.
Success isn’t about doing everything perfectly, it’s about achieving meaningful results while maintaining a sustainable approach. You might think you’re irreplaceable in your workplace however you might ask yourself – if I died in the morning would this company stay going without me?
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