Is Burnout Preventable?
Posted on July 09, 2025 by Kimera Hobbs, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
A closer look at causes, prevention, and remedies for burnout, both in the workplace and in life.
Burnout is a serious issue, particularly for those who work in jobs where you are providing life-changing services to people in need. Individuals who work in those fields are often under a great deal of stress, both from the demands of the job and from the emotional toll of helping others.
So what is burnout?
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. It is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, cynicism, and detachment, as well as a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. Burnout can occur in any profession, but it is particularly common among those who work in helping professions, such as healthcare workers, social workers, and teachers.
Humans are unique. We need a degree of healthy “stress” to prevent boredom and frustration. However, too much can lead to poor decision making and ineffective communication, negatively impact mental health, and ultimately cause burnout (Bruce, 2009). Stress not only takes a toll on our physical and mental wellbeing, but also narrows our outlook, making long-term strategic thinking more difficult (Peart, 2021).
What causes burnout?
Burnout is caused by a combination of factors, including work-related stress, personal factors, and organizational factors. But it can also be prevented with some simple strategies.
First, assess how you are doing in each of the following activities:
• Planning your work. Do you know what work is coming? What will you be working on next week? Do you have a shareable plan?
• Delegating tasks. Sometimes we steer away from handing over work to others, but it can be positive for both parties.
• Saying no. Saying no is necessary when you have too much work or someone else could perform it.
• Letting go of perfectionism. Sometimes producing a perfect piece of work is not required; sometimes, good is good enough.
There are several strategies that can help us avoid burnout:
1. Set realistic goals: One of the main causes of burnout is a sense of being overwhelmed by work. Setting realistic goals can help us avoid this feeling. It is important to break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones, and to prioritize tasks based on their importance.
2. Take breaks: Are you maybe one of those who says “I’ll just power through…” Please stop yourself from thinking that way. It is important to take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge our batteries. Afterall, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Filling your cup might look like: taking a short walk, doing some stretches, or simply taking a few deep breaths.
3. Practice self-care: Practicing self-care is essential for avoiding burnout. This can include getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Those activities you know fill your cup back up and allow you to keep going.
4. Seek support: It is important to seek support from friends, family, and colleagues, or a coach. Talking about our feelings and experiences can help you feel less isolated and more connected.
5. Set boundaries: It is important to set boundaries to protect our time and energy. This can include saying no to requests that are outside of our job description or that we do not have the capacity to handle.
6. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is a practice that involves being present in the moment and observing our thoughts and feelings without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can help us manage stress and avoid burnout.
7. Seek help: If you are experiencing burnout, it is important to seek help.
If you are experiencing burnout, quitting is not the answer… Burnout is one of those things that we carry with us, so just going to another job won’t solve the problem – it will just delay it for a few weeks, maybe a few months at best, and then you’ll be right back where you started.
Good news though — burnout is entirely preventable, but you must be self-aware and in touch with YOU. Pay attention to early warning signs in yourself, try some of the strategies I’ve listed here, maybe reach out to a friend, a trusted colleague, your manager, or take advantage of coaching to help you find your balance again.
2025 © Choice Leadership Int’l
