What burnout feels like
Burnout is long-term exhaustion from work: feeling drained before the day starts, frustrated or cynical about your job, and too spent to enjoy time off. It isn't a medical diagnosis on its own, but it's real, and it can lead to depression, anxiety, and health problems.
It usually comes from a mismatch between demands and resources, not from personal weakness.
About this self-check
The seven questions are the work-related burnout scale of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, developed by researchers in Denmark and widely used in workplace studies. Scores are averaged to a number from 0 to 100.
Your answers stay in your browser. Saycalm doesn't see or store them, and only sends them anywhere if you ask us to email you your results.
The questions
Seven questions about how work affects you, answered either by how much ("To a very high degree" to "To a very low degree") or how often ("Always" to "Never").
- Is your work emotionally exhausting?
- Do you feel burnt out because of your work?
- Does your work frustrate you?
- Do you feel worn out at the end of the working day?
- Are you exhausted in the morning at the thought of another day at work?
- Do you feel that every working hour is tiring for you?
- Do you have enough energy for family and friends during leisure time?
Common questions
Is burnout the same as depression?
They overlap but aren't the same. Burnout is tied to work and often improves away from it; depression affects all of life. They often occur together, which is why it's worth talking to a professional if burnout is high.
How do people recover from burnout?
Usually by reducing the load (workload, hours, or responsibilities), protecting real rest, reconnecting with things that restore energy, and sometimes time off. Therapy helps with boundaries and with any depression or anxiety along the way.
Does burnout only happen to people who work too much?
No. It also comes from lack of control, unfairness, little support, or work that clashes with your values. Caregivers and parents can burn out too, even without a paid job.
Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), work-related burnout scale. Kristensen, T.S., Borritz, M., Villadsen, E., and Christensen, K.B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress 19(3):192–207. Used for screening only; not a diagnosis.
