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.

   大家晚安。幾年前，我每天工作十二個小時。我覺得累到不行，對自己的專案不再在乎，覺得做什麼都沒有意義。後來我才知道，這種狀態有個名稱：職業倦怠。今天，我要來說明它是什麼意思。

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，世界衛生組織把職業倦怠納入《國際疾病分類》第十一版，也就是ICD-11。不過，要特別注意它是怎麼被分類的。

   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.

   世衛組織把職業倦怠描述為一種「職業現象」，而不是一種疾病。它特別和工作有關，是長期的職場壓力沒有被妥善處理所造成的。

   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.

   根據世衛組織，職業倦怠有三個面向：覺得精疲力盡、能量被耗光；在心理上和工作保持距離，或對工作抱持負面態度；以及覺得自己的工作效能變差。回頭看，這三項我全都有。

   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.

   常見的誤解是，職業倦怠只是很累，或是代表一個人不夠堅強。但世衛組織的定義指出，問題在於沒有被處理的職場壓力，也就是說，工作環境很重要，不只是個人的問題。

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.

   對我有幫助的是：跟主管坦白談我的工作量、訂出清楚的上下班時間，以及尋求專業人士的協助。如果你在自己身上看到這些徵兆，請找你信任的人或醫療專業人員聊一聊。

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.

   職場也有該扮演的角色。因為職業倦怠來自職場壓力，公司可以透過安排合理的工作量、尊重休息時間和假期，並且讓大家能安心說出自己撐不下去，來提供協助。

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.

   最後，職業倦怠是真實存在的，它和工作有關，也不是個人的失敗。當我們了解它是什麼，就能開始面對它，不管是以個人的身分，還是以職場的角度。謝謝大家。