Am I Feeling Burnout?

Feeling burnout is more common than we know — it’s an actual global phenomenon. Can you identify when you’re feeling burnout? Do you know strategies for managing burnout? Learn more about how to identify it and how to handle it when you do.

Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash

Over the last couple of months, I have been mentoring a current graduate student in my alma mater’s higher education program. We’ve talked about his current assistantship. His professional goals. How to start a career in diversity and equity.

But in our last conversation, he asked me how I avoid feeling burnout.

It struck me as an odd question. Not because a recent college graduate and new graduate student is asking about burnout. But because not enough do.

I gave what I thought was a good answer during a Zoom meeting, but it made me want to look into: what is burnout, how can we identify it, and how do we manage it or avoid it altogether?

What is Burnout?

It is important to note that burnout is not a medical diagnosis. While many of its symptoms can mirror other medical or psychological disorders, burnout itself is related to stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of…