What Is Burnout? How the WHO Defines It

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1. 01What Is Burnout?

   Good evening, everyone. A few years ago, I was working twelve-hour days. I felt exhausted, I stopped caring about my projects, and I felt like nothing I did mattered. Later, I learned that there's a name for this: burnout. Today, I'll explain what it means.

   大家晚上好。几年前，我每天工作十二个小时。我感到筋疲力尽，不再关心自己的项目，觉得自己做的一切都毫无意义。后来我才知道，这种状态有一个名字：职业倦怠。今天，我来解释一下它的含义。

2. 02An Official Definition

   In 2019, the World Health Organization included burnout in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases, called ICD-11. But it's important to note how it's classified.

   2019年，世界卫生组织将职业倦怠纳入了《国际疾病分类》第十一次修订本，也就是ICD-11。但需要注意的是它是如何被分类的。

   Source: World Health Organization, "Burn-out an 'occupational phenomenon': International Classification of Diseases" (May 2019)

3. 03Not a Medical Condition

   The WHO describes burnout as an "occupational phenomenon," not as a medical condition. It is specifically linked to work, resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

   世卫组织将职业倦怠描述为一种“职业现象”，而不是一种医学疾病。它专门与工作相关，是由未能成功管理的长期工作压力造成的。

   Source: World Health Organization, "Burn-out an 'occupational phenomenon': International Classification of Diseases" (May 2019)

4. 04Three Dimensions

   According to the WHO, burnout has three dimensions: feeling exhausted or drained of energy, feeling mentally distant or negative about your job, and feeling less effective at work. Looking back, I had all three.

   根据世卫组织的说法，职业倦怠有三个维度：感到精疲力竭或能量耗尽，在心理上与工作疏远或对工作抱有消极态度，以及工作效率下降。回想起来，这三点我都有。

   Source: World Health Organization, "Burn-out an 'occupational phenomenon': International Classification of Diseases" (May 2019)

5. 05A Common Misunderstanding

   A common misunderstanding is that burnout simply means being tired, or that it's a sign of weakness. But the WHO's definition points to unmanaged workplace stress, which means the work environment matters, not just the individual.

   一个常见的误解是，职业倦怠只是累了，或者是软弱的表现。但世卫组织的定义指向的是未经管理的工作压力，这意味着工作环境很重要，而不只是个人的问题。

6. 06What Helped Me

   What helped me was talking honestly with my manager about my workload, setting clear working hours, and getting support from a professional. If you recognize these signs in yourself, please talk to someone you trust or a health professional.

   对我有帮助的是：和经理坦诚地谈我的工作量，设定明确的工作时间，并寻求专业人士的帮助。如果你在自己身上发现了这些迹象，请和你信任的人或医疗专业人士谈一谈。

7. 07What Workplaces Can Do

   Workplaces have a role too. Because burnout comes from workplace stress, companies can help by setting realistic workloads, respecting breaks and holidays, and making it safe for people to say when they're struggling.

   职场也有责任。因为职业倦怠来自工作压力，企业可以通过设定合理的工作量、尊重休息和假期，以及让员工能够放心地说出自己的困难来提供帮助。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, burnout is real, it's connected to work, and it's not a personal failure. When we understand what it is, we can start to address it, as individuals and as workplaces. Thank you.

   总而言之，职业倦怠是真实存在的，它与工作相关，并不是个人的失败。当我们理解了它是什么，就可以开始应对它，无论是作为个人还是作为职场。谢谢大家。