MindBodyGreen - How To Recover From Burnout, According To Mental Health Experts

Since 2019, burnout has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an "occupational phenomena," impacting the mental wellbeing of people all around the globe. But what is it exactly? And more importantly, how can you overcome it?

Here's what to know, according to mental health experts.

What is burnout?

The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon with symptoms including, "Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one's job or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficacy."

Burnout is not classified as an illness or disease, and while WHO does note burnout refers specifically to work-related struggles, it can manifest into far more areas of your life.

As licensed marriage and family therapist Tiana Leeds, M.A., LMFT tells mindbodygreen, symptoms of burnout can persist over a long period of time and can range from emotional, to mental, to physical health factors. "Individuals going through burnout often experience symptoms in all three areas," she explains, such as irritability (emotional), difficulty concentrating (mental), and headaches (physical).