My workplace burnout was my body's way of telling me to change

Carol Gaffney is just one of the 70% of workers who become physically and emotionally drained from taking on too much in their job and even in life, says Sharon Ní Chonchúir

Carol Gaffney. Picture: Phil Gaffney

Workplace burnout is a problem. A 2023 survey of 700 workers found that 70% had experienced burnout at some point in their careers, 30% had “definitely” experienced it, 26% had without realising there was a term for how they were feeling, and 14% currently had symptoms. (The survey was carried out by Lockton People Solutions Ireland.)

The 26% who didn’t recognise they had burnout points to a lack of understanding.