The Burnout Test

A practical way to tell tiredness from burnout is to watch how you respond to rest.

After a weekend of genuine rest, how do you feel Monday morning? Refreshed, even reluctantly, points to tiredness. Monday feeling as heavy as Friday evening points to burnout.

Does anything at work still excite you? Tired people can name something. Burned-out people struggle, because excitement has turned into obligation.

Outside work, tired people still look forward to hobbies, while burned-out people lose interest even with energy to spare. Notice your cynicism too: frustration with one project is normal, but cynicism about your whole field runs deeper.