Are you Burned Out? How to Spot Stress in Yourself and Your Team

Do you feel constantly exhausted, less motivated, or like you’re just going through the motions at work? Or perhaps you’ve noticed the same signs in your team members—employees who were once energised and productive are now disengaged or struggling to keep up. Burnout can affect anyone, and often, the signs go unnoticed until it’s too late.

What Does Burnout Look Like?

Burnout doesn’t always announce itself loudly. It can start with small changes—feeling more irritable, procrastinating, or losing interest in tasks that used to bring fulfilment. And if it’s happening to you, it might also be happening to others around you.

What are some of the behavioural signs of burnout?

• Chronic Absenteeism: A sharp increase in sick days or late arrivals can signal that stress is affecting someone’s health. A 2023 Allianz report highlights that stress-related absenteeism has been rising in Australia, and burnout is a key driver (Allianz, 2023).

• Lack of Engagement: Transitioning from being an active participant in meetings or contributing new ideas to becoming withdrawn, quiet, or less collaborative, are red flags.

• Decline in Productivity: Missing deadlines, making mistakes, or struggling to keep pace with workload. Stress impairs cognitive functioning, and research from Harvard Business Review shows that employees experiencing burnout can see a 40% decline in problem-solving and focus (Smith, 2019).

• Emotional and Behavioral Shifts: Increased irritability and mood swings can also indicate burnout.

What are some of the less obvious signs of burnout?

• Pessimism: The tendency to have a more negative outlook

• Trouble Sleeping: Restlessness and insomnia are two sleep-related issues linked with stress and burnout

• Stomachaches or Headaches: Burnout creates psychological distress which is linked to tension headaches and gastronomical issues

• Lowered Immunity: Catching more colds and other viruses due to the immune system being compromised

• Weight Gain/Loss: Increased cortisol can lead to additional weight around the waist and, coupled with possible reduced sleep and depression, eating habits can change

• Isolation: Tendency to withdraw and isolate, avoiding social situations

• Muscle Pain: Aches and pains can be a physical sign of burnout. When stressed muscles automatically tense up to guard the body against pain and injury

Although all of these can be signs of burnout, it's important to note that some of these may also be symptoms of other physical or mental health issues, and should be considered as part of a broader holistic review that can be conducted by a GP, Psychologist or other health practitioners.

Burnout is More Common than You Think

Whether you’re experiencing burnout yourself or noticing it in your team, this is not an isolated issue.

The demands of modern work life, combined with blurred boundaries between work and personal time, are taking a toll. In fact, a survey conducted by Gallup found that 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes, and those who do are 2.6 times more likely to be actively seeking a new job (Gallup, 2020).

A Personal Reflection: Could You Be Facing Burnout?

Take a moment to reflect:

• Are you feeling constantly overwhelmed, detached, or just mentally checked out at work?

• Do you find it harder to get excited about your work or even the things that used to energise you?

• Are you more easily frustrated or reactive than usual, both at work and in your personal life?

• Does the idea of logging in to work or attending another meeting feel daunting, even if you’ve rested over the weekend?

• Are you avoiding social interactions, meetings, or activities that require emotional energy, preferring to isolate yourself more often?

• If you’re nodding your head to any of these questions, it might be time to step back and reassess your own wellbeing.

Becoming Proactive

Once burnout has set in, reversing its effects is difficult. That’s why a proactive approach to wellbeing is essential. Instead of relying on reactive measures, such as providing support only after employees are already showing signs of burnout, businesses need to invest in holistic wellness programs that focus on:

• Emotional resilience to help employees manage stress and recover from setbacks

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques to prevent stress from becoming chronic

• Encouraging work-life balance to reduce the risk of exhaustion and disengagement

• Creating purpose-driven work environments that foster long-term employee satisfaction

By implementing initiatives like the Positive Pathways Wellbeing Program, which equips employees with the tools to recognise stress in self and others, manage stress, improve focus and increase resilience, companies can help prevent burnout before it starts.

Follow the links below for information on the next program.

Positive Pathways Program

References

1. Allianz. (2023). Mental health and wellbeing in the workplace: Australian workers' insights. Retrieved from Allianz Australia

2. Gallup. (2020). Employee burnout: Causes and cures. Retrieved from Gallup

3. Smith, R. (2019). Stress and its impact on employee productivity. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from Harvard Business Review

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and/or just need someone to talk to, please reach out to someone or a professional for help.

Some organisations you can call:

Lifeline - 13 11 14

1800Respect - 1800 737 732

MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978

Beyond Blue - 1300 22 46 36

Headspace - 1800 650 890

QLife - 1800 184 527