How Long Does Burnout Last

If you want to instantly connect with Gen Z, just mention how messed up your sleep schedule is. A disrupted sleep cycle is one of the biggest issues Gen Z faces today. We’re either sleeping too much or not at all; there’s rarely an in-between. Most of our New Year’s resolutions probably include “fix my sleep schedule” at least once. Maybe that’s why we feel exhausted all the time—so much so that half of our daily functioning relies on caffeine and energy drinks.

We’ve all been on the receiving end of lectures from our parents about how our lives would magically improve if we just slept on time. But have they—or even we—ever paused to ask why our sleep is so chaotic in the first place? Why do we sometimes get hours of rest in one go and then suddenly go days with barely any? And while that might explain the constant tiredness, does it also account for the mood swings, the lack of motivation, and the constant irritability? Or is there something deeper we’re not addressing? The state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion experienced by Gen Z and millennials has a name: burnout. It is caused by high levels of stress from work, studies, or other sustained pressures. Burnout is the main reason why today’s youth are constantly sleep-deprived, low on energy, and lacking motivation.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a syndrome caused by “chronic workplace stress” that has not been managed well. Burnout is characterized by three specific dimensions: feelings of exhaustion, increased negativity towards one’s job, and a reduction in professional effectiveness. Sounds familiar, right? The very traits that today’s generation is infamous for are the main characteristics of burnout. So maybe we’ve been pointing the finger in the wrong direction. The problem is burnout—not today’s generation. What’s worse is that burnout is an umbrella term; it includes different types and stages, all of which young people are experiencing more than ever.

Like everything in this world, burnout starts small—almost unnoticeable. That is the first stage of burnout: the honeymoon stage. Yes, like a relationship, stress also has a honeymoon phase. Remember that excitement you felt on the first day of college? That was part of your honeymoon phase. Whether it’s a new job, an internship, or a new grade level, you are full of energy, setting new goals and expectations for yourself. There are no warning signs here; it’s the calm before the storm.

But then it begins—the onset of stress. The warning signs start showing: you feel tired, deadlines pile up, and the pressure starts building. The constant pressure becomes chronic stress—unfortunately, the stage we are all too familiar with. Stress is constant, motivation is negligible, and everything feels like a task. Mood swings and irritability begin.

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When this chronic stress is not managed well, it leads to burnout—the stage of peak exhaustion and numbness. You start feeling indifferent towards everything and stop caring about work, deadlines, and personal goals. Hopelessness sets in. But even when you reach such a low point, a feeling of hitting rock bottom, you still haven’t seen the worst. Because if burnout is not addressed, it becomes part of your identity.

You then reach the stage of habitual burnout. Until now, it only affected your productivity, but now it impacts your relationships, your health, and your self-worth. Gen Z is often looked down upon by other generations, mainly because of one important question: why is Gen Z the generation that experiences burnout the most? The other generations have gone through the same stages of life as us. They have also studied, hustled, and, after years of hard work, reached a certain platform. So why is this generation different?

With each generation, technology has undergone a significant shift. While it has made life easier in some areas, it has also blurred the line between work and personal life for this generation. In the past, work was limited to physically being in the office. Now, your work never truly leaves you. You might log out, but sadly, you’re still online—which means you’re still “on.”

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The 2020 pandemic only made this worse. Thanks to remote work, you are always at work, leaving you with barely any personal life. Remember that feeling of stepping into your home and instantly relaxing? People are slowly losing that. Older generations accepted this grind for decades, hoping to enjoy life later. Gen Z refuses to be part of that cycle. We’re reshaping work culture, striving for a healthier work–life balance. The Evening Standard reports that Gen Z is redefining professionalism and prioritising mental health, often unfairly labelled “unprofessional” or lazy.

On top of this, economic pressures, environmental crises, and global conflicts add to our stress, leaving us worried about the future. So, are we being dramatic, or is our stress pointing to a broken system Burnout spreading through a generation threatens society itself. It drains passion, creativity, and joy. Emotional numbness seeps into friendships and relationships, leading to isolation. CBS News recently linked burnout and fatigue to the decline in the U.S. birth rate. Gen Z is delaying or avoiding traditional milestones such as serious relationships, marriage, and children—not out of irresponsibility, but because we feel too drained to invest emotionally or financially.

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Burnout isn’t just a phase; it’s a serious issue that needs attention. But what if burnout is temporary? Would we stop worrying? Sadly, burnout has no set timeline. It can last weeks, months, or years. Early burnout may improve with rest and support, but chronic burnout takes longer to heal and often requires professional help. Even after recovery, burnout can return if toxic work environments and unrealistic demands persist.

Recovery is smoother when people feel supported and safe. It’s time to stop blaming and start supporting. Burnout isn’t just extra baggage we carry—it’s making us lose the spark that once drove us. We’ve normalized exhaustion so much that nobody questions it anymore. But we can’t keep pushing through like this. We’re a generation worn out before we’ve even truly started. We choose peace over pressure and rest over hustle—and that’s okay.

Burnout needs care, awareness, and change. Maybe it’s time we stop pretending we’re fine and start talking about what’s draining us—only then can healing begin.

by Misthi Shrestha