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From Gen Z to Boomers – how to beat burnout at every stage of life

Plus how to recognise it while it's in its early stages - and who is most at risk

BURNOUT affects us all at any age, but seemingly for very different reasons.

While millenials struggle to cope with the burden of household chores and childcare, Baby Boomers are consumed by worries about their health.

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Burnout can affect you at any ageCredit: Alamy

In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised burnout as an occupational phenomenon, meaning it is brought on solely by work responsibilities.

However, a survey among 2,000 UK adults reveals that burnout is not exclusively work-related. 

Instead, the study found it is hugely dependent on an individual’s life stage, with different generations experiencing distinct physical and emotional exhaustion stressors.

The research found a surprising top contender for the most burnt out.

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To identify the most burnt-out each generation, participants were asked a series of questions on their work, home and social life, lifestyle habits and wellbeing.

For instance, if they often work over their contracted hours or if they struggle to carry the mental load of responsibilities. 

The higher the score number, the more likely they were to agree with the statements such as, ‘I often work overtime’ or ‘I struggle to carry the mental load of responsibilites’, and hence the higher the burnout probability.

Gen Z scored the highest (4.4) and were therefore the most burnt-out generation, closely followed by Millennials (4.2).

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Gen Xers ranked third (-7.69), Baby Boomers fourth (-21) and The Silent Generation were the least burnt-out (-27).

Though Gen Z scored highest, they were less aware of their experience of burnout when asked how they felt about it, according to the research commissioned by

Why are women suffering dating app 'burnout?

A quarter of Gen Zs (24 per cent) said that people who get burnt-out ‘are just lazy’ - despite getting the reputation as the 'lazy generation' - whilst 26 per cent said it isn’t a real medical condition. 

Millenials, on the other hand, were more likely to recognise and agree (58 per cent) that they had experienced burnout in the past 24 months.

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The research also found that women are more at risk of developing burnout than men, with 44 per cent saying that they have experienced burnout in the last 24 months compared to 33 per cent of men.

Jayne Morris, author of Burnout to Brilliance: Strategies for Sustainable Success, says burnout is “subjective”.

She says: “While it’s typically considered to be an occupational hazard, emotional, physical and mental exhaustion can manifest no matter your walk of life. 

“Whether in a high-powered job, looking after young children, or simply having a full social calendar, each of us handles the cumulative effects of prolonged stress in different ways, with some people experiencing burnout as a result.”

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Whatever your age, gender, symptoms, or experiences, it’s important to remember that burnout is not a fixed state. 

However, experts say that burnout is not something that just ‘goes away’, rather it needs to be addressed so as to not turn into other mental health problems.

'PAY ATTENTION'

According to Jayne Morris, no matter your generation, it’s important to know how to handle and react to prolonged feelings of stress, including the integration of self-regulation techniques.

Jayne says: “Burnout can be a temporary experience, if you pay attention to your body’s signs and symptoms, prioritise self-care and learn how to regulate your system. 

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