What Is Burnout in 2025? Symptoms, Causes and Recovery
Last updated: 1 December 2025
“Burnout” gets used for everything from a rough week to a full emotional crash. This page explains what burnout actually is, how it differs from stress or depression, and what to do if your brain feels totally fried.
What burnout actually means
Burnout is a state of chronic work-related stress that leaves you exhausted, detached and far less effective than usual. It usually builds slowly over months, not overnight.
In real life it can feel like:
- “My brain is mush. I’m staring at work but nothing sticks.”
- “I used to care. Now I just feel numb or cynical about everything.”
- “Even small tasks feel heavy and impossible to start.”
Burnout vs stress vs depression
Stress, burnout and depression often overlap, but they are not the same thing:
- Stress – you feel amped up, pressured, on edge.
- Burnout – you feel empty, drained and checked out.
- Depression – affects all areas of life, not just work, and often comes with persistent low mood, hopelessness and loss of pleasure.
This page is not medical advice. If you feel unsafe, hopeless or unsure, please talk to a doctor or mental health professional in your area.
Common signs of burnout
- Brain fog, forgetfulness, making basic mistakes.
- Irritability, numbness, dread before messages or meetings.
- Headaches, tight shoulders, stomach issues, sleep problems.
- Feeling “wired and tired” at the same time.
First steps if you think you’re burnt out
Small, repeatable shifts matter more than a dramatic quit moment:
- Protect one small block of time a day where you are not “on” for anyone.
- Ask your manager what truly matters this week and drop or delay the rest.
- Tell one person you trust how things really feel – without minimising it.
Where Fried fits in
Fried is for the in-between moments: two minutes before a meeting, five minutes between emails, ten minutes when you’re staring at your laptop wondering how to keep going.
You open the app, choose how much time you have, and get a short, honest reset written specifically for burnout and work stress. No streaks, no accounts – just tiny shifts when your brain is already crispy.
Tags: Burnout basics 2025 Symptoms Causes