3 Reasons Why You Might Be Extra Susceptible To Burnout

Do you feel frustrated because it seems like you burn out more easily than most people you know?

Does this make you feel lazy? Inferior? Stressed? Like there's something wrong with you?

This was exactly me.

I have always felt bad because it seems like I burn out way quicker and more frequently than most people. I need more breaks and slower days, and the thought of having to work in an office on someone else's quick deadlines makes me feel physically ill.

Listening to my friends talk about their corporate and government jobs, how much work they have to do, and the timing in which they have to do it sends me into a nervous panic.

You too?

But fun fact - Did you know that people who are perfectionists, introverts, HSPs (highly sensitive people) and who are extra sensitive to others' judgement and criticism are predisposed to develop burnout more easily than others?

If you are any of those things then I can bet you experience burnout a lot.

But let me back up... What is burnout?

It's a heightened state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion that occurs as a result of high stress over long periods of time (HelpGuide).

Based on this definition, I'd actually argue that those who experience burnout are the least lazy. In order to get to that level of stress for that long, you would have to be extremely hard working, probably a people pleaser who spends all their time doing everything for everyone.

Am I on the right track?

Burnout leads to decreased productivity, resentfulness, hopelessness and an inability to work or function in regular life and can even lead to physical illness (colds, flu's and autoimmune disorders).

But why do people with perfectionism, introverts or highly sensitive people experience burnout more easily?

1. Striving for perfection is far more work

It's just so much extra work. In today's society, I can bet you're already overloaded with work. Your boss probably is working you like a dog, you might overload yourself at home, you might force yourself to do all the things for your health, and if you own a business, you might add all this extra work onto yourself to ensure everything is perfect.

You set impossibly high goals and actually strive for them. Then, when you don't reach them, it feels like you have to work harder. Am I getting warmer here?

Lots of extra work means longer days and more time fixating on the work that you're doing or even the work you've submitted. Your brain never seems to turn it off. It's never good enough. So when you get any kind of feedback, it's crushing and just proves to you that you're not good enough.

All of these things add so much extra stress and burden. And not just to your work. Work stress bubbles over into other aspects of your life. Stress over long periods of time leads to burnout.

2. Perfectionists, introverts and HSPs often engage in a lot of negative self-talk

Emotional stress and exhaustion also highly contribute to burnout. When you spend a lot of your time telling yourself how awful you are and convincing yourself you'll never be good enough that adds a heavy weight of emotional stress to your shoulders. Eventually, your shoulders can no longer hold that weight, and you buckle under it.

Physical and mental stress is not the only stress that leads to burnout. Emotional stress is a type of stress that does not get enough credit for the havoc it causes in your body. But when your body experiences stress, it doesn't use a rating system for which stress it experiences more; stress is stress, especially when it comes to burnout.

So, try watching the way you talk to yourself. Decreasing your emotional stress can have a huge impact on your overall stress levels and, therefore, overall burnout. Changing to positive self-talk is also a great strategy for helping perfectionists recover.

3. A highly sensitive nervous system leads to burning out easier and quicker

A great example, for this reason, comes from Heal Your Nervous System. Think of two different cups (two different people). One cup (person) has low sensitivity and is empty and one cup (person) has high sensitivity and comes preset with marbles in it (see above image).

When the same amount of water (stress) is poured into both cups (people), the cup (person) with the marbles (dysregulated nervous system/high sensitivity) will overflow (burnout) first. Right? Common sense.

The playing field is not even. Sure, the stressor might be the same, but if you're a highly sensitive person or have a dysregulated nervous system, it makes sense that your cup will overflow first because your cup already has lots in it.

You're not lazy or unmotivated you just have an unlucky disadvantage.

Some people are naturally predisposed to burnout. Some people can go through their whole life and never feel burnt out, while others feel like they are there constantly.

If you are one of the people who feels it constantly, remember it's not that there is something inherently wrong with you. You may just be more likely, based on your background, your personality and the trauma you have, to experience it.

There are many ways to help regulate your nervous system. A great first step is to focus on ditching your perfectionism.