What causes burnout? Part Two.
There are so many factors….
Date: 18th February 2025Average Read Time: 4 mins
I used to think for a long time that work was the only thing that contributed to us developing burnout but the minute I started changing that work and still found myself facing burnout, I realised there might be something else influencing my stress levels…..
Me.
As I talked about last week in part 1 of this 2 part blog outlining the causes of burnout, burnout is a workplace phenomenon but our work isn’t solely responsible.
It took me a while to get my head around this but IF our work was entirely to blame, you would expect if ANYONE got burnt out in a specific role that EVERYONE should get burnt out in a role.
The reality is that not everyone gets burnout despite working in the same role….
Rates of burnout are high but they are not 100%.
This means that there is some other variable contributing to what causes burnout and this variable can collectively be referred to as ways we contribute to burnout as individuals.
As I explained last week, there are many ways that our organisations (or places of work) contribute to burnout and the same applies to us as individuals.
There are various ways we can increase our chronic stress levels which I’ve tried to group into 7 broad categories:
1. Personality traits (type A personalities)
Type A individuals are typically ambitious, competitive and very driven (I’m going to refer to ourselves as “we” from now on as I very much notice some - perhaps not all - of these traits in myself as a doctor). We often set high standards for ourselves and can feel a constant need to achieve. This relentless pursuit of goals can lead to stress and anxiety but it can also lead to us not taking the time we don’t realise we need to “rest” which involves us taking the foot off the throttle that we like to keep pressing! This means we are more susceptible to burnout.
2. Emotional Suppression & Instability
There might be lots of times in our professional & personal lives where we need or choose to suppress our emotions. As a short term response this doesn’t have much impact on us but longer term there are significant physical & psychological effects. It causes an increase in stress & a sympathetic neurology response which can lead to anxiety, depression & other stress related illnesses (such as burnout).
3. Reduced perception of Control (over events & lives)
A sense of helplessness or a perceived lack of control over life events can lead to chronic stress…. when individuals feel that they have little say in their lives—or that circumstances are dictated by external factors—they may become demotivated and disillusioned. This lack of perceived control can lead to passivity, where one becomes resigned to stressors rather than actively seeking solutions, increasing the risk of burnout.
4. Being Female
Research shows that women are at a higher risk for burnout compared to men, often due to societal expectations and the pressures of balancing multiple “working” roles in both their professionals & personal lives, including parental responsibilities & any caregiving responsibilities. Similarly, women often take on emotional labor in both personal and professional settings, which can lead to increased stress and eventually burnout.
5. Avoidance coping Strategies
Any avoidance coping strategies which involve evading stressors instead of addressing them directly will increase our likelihood of burnout. These might include procrastination, denial, or engaging in distracting activities instead of facing problems head-on…. We might be doing this consciously but we could also be doing it subconsciously. At the moment in time avoidance can provide temporary relief but over time it often leads to an accumulation of unresolved stressors. This can result in a heavier workload, mounting anxiety and feelings of inadequacy, all of which contribute to burnout.
6. Lifestyle Choices
There are a number of Lifestyle choices which can directly affect stress levels. These include diet choices (with certain foods linked to increased stress such as red meat, ultra-processed foods & complex carbs) lack of exercise, inadequate sleep & any substance abuse. Additionally, not prioritising self-care, relaxation or activities to help us “rest” can lead to persistently increasing stress levels with no release. Over time, this will make someone more vulnerable to burnout.
7. Lifestyle Choices
Lastly, a lack of social support can also increase our stress levels for a couple of reasons. Firstly, as humans we are tribal animals where any social isolation increases our stress response (our ancestors would have felt vulnerable without other individuals around them and we still have this hard-wiring). It is linked to feelings of loneliness & hopelessness which can exacerbate burnout. Secondly, a social support system serves as a way of helping us de-stress. We are more likely to share concerns, seek assistance & use the support of others to help us…. without this any stresses we are experiencing can feel even more overwhelming. This support system could come in all shapes and forms including family, friends or colleagues as a few examples.
I hope this has helped you to understand the different ways we, as individuals, could also be contributing to ourselves developing burnout.
I personally found it really helped me to understand these different ways I could be contributing, as without knowing them I didn’t know how significant my own actions were…..
Similarly, it wasn’t until I properly understood how my actions were contributing that I could take more proactive steps to help myself reduce my stress levels &/or minimise my risk of developing burnout.
Please don't hesitiate to send me an email or message on instragram if you want to talk about this in more detail or if you have any questions.
Did you know I offer 1:1 coaching to help others make changes in their lives? This can be related to careers, starting a business or forming healthier habits. Please just send me an email directly to elle@gabrielletodd.com if this is something you feel you would benefit from & would like to learn more about.
I personally found it really helped me to understand these different ways I could be contributing, as without knowing them I didn’t know how significant my own actions were…..
Similarly, it wasn’t until I properly understood how my actions were contributing that I could take more proactive steps to help myself reduce my stress levels &/or minimise my risk of developing burnout.
Please don't hesitiate to send me an email or message on instragram if you want to talk about this in more detail or if you have any questions.
Did you know I offer 1:1 coaching to help others make changes in their lives? This can be related to careers, starting a business or forming healthier habits. Please just send me an email directly to elle@gabrielletodd.com if this is something you feel you would benefit from & would like to learn more about.
Did you know you can subscribe to my newsletter?
I send a weekly email called my "Thursday Thoughts" where I share links to my new blog posts as well as a thought of the week designed to help you create a work-life you love, without developing burnout! There are no prizes for guessing which day of the week I send it on.... Click the button below if you want to receive it.
