The Burnout Barometer
Tired is a feeling; burnout is a pattern. Eight questions on exhaustion, cynicism, and effectiveness — scored honestly, with practical next steps for wherever you land.
What you’ll learn
What is burnout, exactly?
A state of prolonged exhaustion with three parts: bone-deep tiredness, cynicism or detachment from work you once cared about, and getting less done despite trying harder. It builds slowly, which is why it sneaks up on high performers.
How is burnout different from depression?
Burnout is usually tied to a context — work, caregiving — and often lifts when that context changes. Depression is broader and follows you everywhere. They overlap, so persistent low mood deserves a clinician’s eyes, not a self-diagnosis.
Can rest alone fix burnout?
A weekend helps mild burnout; deep burnout needs structural change — workload, boundaries, control, or support. If real rest does not restore you within a few weeks, the cause is still active and needs addressing.
When should I get professional help for burnout?
When exhaustion survives real rest, cynicism is hurting your relationships or work, physical symptoms show up, or you cannot tell burnout from depression. A therapist helps untangle what is situational from what needs deeper work.
Burnout vs depression — how to tell
They share symptoms — exhaustion, flatness, trouble concentrating — which is why people confuse them. A rough guide, not a diagnosis:
- Burnout is context-bound: you feel dead at work but come alive on a real vacation. The dread has an address.
- Depression is pervasive: the flatness follows you to the beach, the weekend, the good news. Nothing lifts it.
- They co-exist: long burnout can slide into depression. If you are unsure which you are dealing with, that uncertainty itself is a good reason to talk to a professional.
Running on empty?
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