Stress vs Burnout: Recognizing the thin line
Stress, Burnout. These words are sometimes used interchangeably, but really, they aren't synonyms. They are two distinct words, you can look them up.
Now that you believe me, what then is the difference between stress and burnout?
Stress is a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, or school. These problems are usually referred to as stressors. You have to develop the habit of managing your stress or it might become overwhelming.
Burnout, on the other hand, is a result of excess stress. It is increased exhaustion and diminished interest, resulting from the accumulation of excessive amount of stress over time. This is when your stress becomes unmanageable.
Do you see it now?
Burnout = accumulated stress over time.
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Stress and Burnout can be differentiated in 3 ways.
1. Persistence vs Exhaustion.
A person might experience stress as a result of persistence. I'm not saying you shouldn't strive to reach your goal. I'm saying, you could be trying too hard. People experiencing stress may be described as being persistent. They go all the way, to the end, with all their energy, forgetting to constantly check their stress levels.
A person experiencing burnout would be described differently. They are always tired and unmotivated. They don't even try. They've accumulated too much stress, they can take any more.
2. Overwhelming vs Cynicism.
Back to a stressed person. He/she constantly feel overwhelmed by all the work. This is because he/she is always working. Trying to get to the end, to meet the deadline, with little or no break.
Experiencing burnout comes with a different emotion, Cynicism. It is having an "I don't care" attitude. People suffering from burnout are usually filled with negativity. They may come out as being pessimistic, but they aren't. They've just had too much stress.
3. Obsession vs Inefficacy.
This obsession is not a symptom of OCD, it’s just obsession. Let’s say a person is stressed because of an upcoming event. This stress causes the person to have recurring thoughts (obsession) about it. He/she experience stress when thinking too much about it, saying statement like "I will... no matter what".
A person experiencing burnout may become ineffective. It decreases self-efficacy, thereby making a person incompetent. He/she may seem to make no difference in their endeavors.
Though burnout may seem more serious, it doesn't mean high stress level isn't. The best way to avoid burnout is to manage your stress. No excess stress, no burnout.
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