Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. While not a diagnosable medical condition, it has now been classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an occupational phenomenon. The WHO outlines the characteristics of burnout as:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
  
• Reduced professional efficacy

Though burnout is most often caused by problems at work, it can also be related to other situations and often appear in parents and caregivers, too. According to the WHO, 1 in 4 adults will be affected by burnout at some point in their lives.

Burnout usually happens slowly and over time, and everyone will experience it differently.  It often saps energy, productivity, positivity and can affect all aspects of your health. However, here are the common signs and symptoms to look out for.

• Feeling exhausted or drained all of the time
• Tension headaches and general aches and pain
  
• Having difficulty falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall asleep again
• Experiencing a change in appetite
• Feelings of depression, sadness or hopelessness
  
• You lack focus, have trouble concentrating and forget things easily
• Having an increasingly cynical or negative outlook on things previously of interest
• Social isolation and detachment: You feel too tired or busy to see family and friends
• Lower immunity: Catching more coughs and colds and feeling under the weather

What you eat can have a huge impact on your mood and energy levels. Eating the right foods will help your body to cope better when you’re under pressure.

• Avoid processed foods, white carbohydrates and caffeine
• Eat fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, lean proteins such as meat, chicken and oily fish, as well as healthy fats, nuts and seeds
• Eat foods that are high in Vitamin C, including leafy greens, citrus fruit, kiwis and berries
• Get enough magnesium. It is found in dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and wholegrains
• Drink more water and herbal teas