Recognizing Burnout Early

Burnout does not happen overnight — it builds gradually. This lesson covers the warning signs so you can catch it early, in yourself and in others.

The three dimensions of burnout are exhaustion (physical and emotional depletion), cynicism (detachment from work and colleagues), and inefficacy (feeling like nothing you do matters).

Watch for changes in behavior: withdrawal from team activities, increased absenteeism, declining quality of work, irritability, and loss of enthusiasm for previously enjoyable tasks.