What's the difference between stress and burnout?

Wondering if you, or someone you know, might be burned out? Here are eight differences you need to know.

The words ‘stress’ and ‘burnout’ are increasingly being used, often interchangeably, to talk about how we’re feeling at work. Whilst the two words are related; they are not the same.

Having had a stay in Burnout Hotel, I’m acutely aware of how connected they are and, how burnout unexpectedly creeps up and takes us down.

If we don't know what burnout is, we may think it's 'just stress' and, I’ll be fine when this project finishes.

Unfortunately recovering from burnout is not that simple. 

Someone I’m now working with took a couple of weeks off, thinking they just needed a fortnight’s respite. Two months on and they're still not ready to return to work.

That's why it's really important to know how burnout presents so that if you notice it occurring in yourself or another, you can take action as soon as you 'smell smoke'.

Below I share eight differences between stress and burnout.

Image: Jacqueline Day, Unsplash

8 differences between Stress and Burnout

Stress can be experienced in any context

HSE definition of stress:

'the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them.'

Burnout is exclusively a workplace phenomenon

WHO definition of Burnout:

“a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

Stress is a natural human response to threat. When faced with a challenge that we feel unable to cope with, the body's stress response initiates readying is for action.

Burnout is an outcome of poor stress management. It occurs when our capacity to cope can no longer withstand the demands made of us.

Stress is temporary, like catching a cold. Perhaps a major project is demanding a lot of time and energy to meet a milestone but it’s just for a week or two. When the deadline is met, the symptoms of stress disappear.

Burnout is more like a chronic illness. It develops over a period of months or years, and doesn't go away when conditions change.

Stress drives us to put in effort. It keeps us focused and motivates us to take action.

With burnout you have little or no motivation. You're tired before you arrive at work and go through the motions. You feel so drained afterwards, you've nothing left for non-work activities.

When stressed you become over-engaged with the issue or problem. Your mind is running overtime on all you need to deal with.

If you’re burned out, you’re increasingly disengaged and disinterested. You're so worn out and worn down, you cannot afford to care.

When stressed there is a sense of urgency and panic. Over time this can become anxiety and lead to physical health problems.

When burned out there’s a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. In time this may lead to depression.

You’re often overly emotional when stressed. You may feel tearful, short-tempered, worried and/or agitated.

When burned out your feelings are blunted. You feel numb.

Stress initially impacts us physically. We feel stress viscerally. Stress activates our fight-or-flight response, leading to changes in the body that we might notice in our shoulders, gut, breathing or heart rate.

Burnout initially impacts us emotionally. We're so physically and mentally drained, our mood flatlines.

As a high functioning professional, it is easy to ignore signs of burnout and carry on. I know because I did it. Please don’t!

Look again at the differences in the list above. If you think that what you’re experiencing might be burnout, and not 'just stress', it’s time something changed.

The sooner you take action, the sooner you'll start to recover.

If you recognise yourself in this post and you’d like help deciding what to do, send me a message. Nothing changes if nothing changes.

Take care of you