Burnout is more than just feeling exhausted or overwhelmed—it’s a complex, progressive condition. Burnout can happen during any stage of our life and it may happen to anyone who does not take actions to protect their mental health. Though many of us understand burnout as fatigue from work, it often follows a series of stages before reaching a critical point – and let’s face it – there are many factors at play. According to psychologist Herbert Freudenberger and colleagues, burnout develops through 12 distinct stages. Recognising these can help you intervene early before burnout seriously affects your well-being and impacts those you love the most.
