Workplace stress was already a severe problem before COVID19 hit, with 83% of employees telling the American Institute of Stress in 2019 that they suffer from work-related stress.  But with more people working from home, researchers say they expect to see work-related stress become even more prevalent, as the boundaries between work and home life become blurred.

If that stress keeps up for too long, it can lead to burnout.

So how do you know whether you have burnout?  Burnout usually is characterized by feeling tired or exhausted, a lack of enthusiasm and increased job negativity, and a decreased ability to perform your job.  Burnout often is accompanied by frustration, anger, irritability, agitation, restlessness, headaches, or body pains.

Not all burnout can be prevented, but there are some things you can do to alleviate it if you are feeling it.  The first step is to recognize what parts of your job are causing stress.  Other tactics include communicating with co-workers, employees, or supervisors; prioritizing sleep; and getting regular exercise.  Meditation and mindfulness also help reduce anxiety and depression.