Published Online:June 2025
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Soft Skills
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJSS020625
DOI:10.71329/IUPJSS/2025.19.2.24-29
Author Name:Revathi Turaga
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Management
Download Format:PDF
Pages:24-29
Burnout is an all-too-common phenomenon—almost a silent epidemic— in today’s fast-paced, brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible (BANI) world. It affects individuals across professions and life stages. In the post-Covid era, as work-life boundaries have blurred and demands have intensified, the risk of burnout has become increasingly significant. Understanding what burnout is, how it differs from stress and depression, and how it can empower us is essential to tackle it head-on for sustained wellbeing and productivity. This paper elaborates on the nature of burnout and its progression, and provides real-life examples, strategies for prevention, and actionable insights for sustained wellbeing. Real-world narratives and lessons from renowned personalities underline its significance, supplemented by evidence from books, statistics, and scholarly sources.
Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies burnout as an “occupational phenomenon”, resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been effectively managed. While it is often associated with work, burnout can also stem from demanding personal experiences. Burnout is not merely about fatigue; it is about feeling disconnected from one’s work and from others (Figure 1). For instance, a passionate teacher who thrives on student success may feel emotionally depleted after extended periods of handling oversized classes and inadequate resources.