In our four-part burnout series, we examine burnout for what it is — an all-encompassing state of exhaustion — and look at how it pertains to women at work. This time, we talk about the physical toll it can take on us.
Although burnout is often associated with psychological symptoms — brain fog, lack of motivation, a diminished sense of accomplishment and mental exhaustion — it can also cause issues in the body. Burnout can cause serious physical health risks.
“People often think that this is more of a psychological thing, that it’s mental exhaustion. But there can be lots of physical symptoms associated with it,” says Dr. Valerie Taylor, department head of psychiatry at the Cumming School of Medicine. “People may start to experience headaches, muscle tension and other types of physical discomfort.”
Taylor has extensive experience and knowledge of the intersection of mental health and physical illness. She leads a lab that examines the links between psychiatric illness and the gut microbiome. As an expert in psychiatry, she recognizes that burnout isn’t just someone feeling tired or some trendy catchphrase — it’s a real syndrome with severe health implications.
“While it is not a medical or mental health condition, it has been classified as a syndrome, meaning a collection of symptoms or signs associated with a specific health-related cause,” she explains. “If it’s not addressed, it can lead to significant mental and physical health problems.”
Physical symptoms
People experiencing burnout may have headaches, stomachaches, intestinal issues, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep and frequent sickness. Left untreated, it can even increase your risk of coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and insomnia.
And sometimes, health concerns stem from a symptom of burnout. Think of the link between a lack of sleep and increased health issues or how unhealthy behaviours to cope with stress, such as excessive smoking or drinking, can put you more at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses.
Increasing rates of burnout
Burnout is steadily on the rise. And since the pandemic, women have been even more disproportionately affected. According to the 2021 McKinsey & Company Women in the Workplace report, 42 per cent of women reported feeling burned out in 2021 compared to 32 per cent in 2020. The gender gap in burnout nearly doubled in the year following the pandemic, with 35 per cent of men reporting burnout in 2021 compared to 28 per cent in 2020.
Women may have experienced more burnout than men for a number of reasons, including the stress of being a working mom during a pandemic, lack of support or acknowledgement at work, and societal expectations to perfectly balance professional and personal obligations, even during a highly unpredictable time.
If left untreated, burnout can lead to serious and long-lasting health issues. It’s important to learn preventative measures to avoid burnout, know how to identify its symptoms and ask for support when you need it.
Taking care of yourself
Addressing burnout is no easy feat, but it is necessary to live a healthy, balanced life. Taylor says making a change is often about regaining control in your life and putting yourself first, which can be challenging, especially for women in leadership roles, but there are ways to get started. One approach to combatting burnout is the Three R Approach:
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- Recognize: Watch for the warning signs of burnout.
- Reverse: Undo the damage by seeking support and managing stress.
- Resilience: Build your resilience to stress by taking care of your physical and emotional health.
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Taylor adds that “sometimes you have to change your workplace, learn to say no, speak up for yourself when you’re not feeling recognized, delegate tasks at home and at work, and ensure you take time for yourself as opposed to always placing others above you.”
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