How do I know if I'm burned out?

Burnout has three clinical dimensions: exhaustion (depleted energy reserves), cynicism (detachment from your work), and reduced efficacy (feeling less effective even when working hard). You can be high on one and low on others. Level 0's diagnostic scores all three separately so you know exactly where you are.

What is the difference between burnout and stress?

Stress is characterized by overengagement — too much pressure with too few resources. Burnout is characterized by disengagement — chronic exhaustion that leads to cynicism and reduced performance even when the pressure has eased. The recovery strategies are different for each, which is why Level 0 scores them separately.

What are early signs of burnout to watch for?

Early burnout signals include: Sunday dread arriving on Thursday, difficulty feeling satisfaction from work that used to energize you, increased irritability with colleagues, and completing tasks on autopilot without engagement. Level 0 detects these patterns before they become crisis-level.

BURNOUT RISK DIAGNOSTIC

Burnout is silent until it isn't.

12 clinical questions across three dimensions. Detects burnout before performance collapses — not after. Honest ratings only.

STAGE 1 · EARLY

Tired but functional

ENERGY

FOCUS

DRIVE

STAGE 2 · CRITICAL

Cynical, detached

ENERGY

FOCUS

DRIVE

STAGE 3 · COLLAPSE

Performance fails

ENERGY

FOCUS

DRIVE

← most people find out at Stage 2 or 3 →

STAGE 1 RECOVERY

2–4 wks

Rest + routine adjustment. Fully reversible. Performance rebounds fast.

STAGE 2 RECOVERY

1–3 months

Requires structural change. Cynicism and detachment persist weeks after rest begins.

STAGE 3 RECOVERY

3–12 months

Clinical intervention often needed. Career derailment risk. Full capacity may not return.

HOW BURNOUT LOOKS FROM INSIDE — BEFORE YOU CALL IT BURNOUT

WEEK 2

Started skipping lunch breaks. Replied to Slack after 11pm. Told yourself "just this sprint."

WEEK 4

Stopped going to the gym. "No time." Social invitations declined: "too tired to explain."

WEEK 7

Snapped at a colleague in a meeting. Felt shame. Overcompensated by working more that weekend.

WEEK 10

Stopped returning personal messages. Reading but not replying. Everything felt like effort.

WEEK 14

Called in sick — for the third time this month. Still checked Slack from bed. Couldn't stop.

EXHAUSTION — physical and emotional depletion

At the end of a workday, I feel emotionally drained.

NeverAlways

I feel tired when I get up in the morning and have to face another day.

NeverAlways

Working all day is a real strain for me.

NeverAlways

My recovery after time off doesn't feel complete — I return depleted.

NeverAlways

CYNICISM — detachment, disconnection, contempt

I've become less interested in my work since I started this role.

NeverAlways

I doubt the significance of what I'm doing.

NeverAlways

I feel cynical about what my work contributes to outcomes.

NeverAlways

I find it hard to care about what happens at work.

NeverAlways

EFFICACY — sense of competence and achievement

I can effectively solve the problems that arise in my work.

NeverAlways

I feel I'm making an effective contribution to my organization.

NeverAlways

I can calmly deal with emotional problems at work.

NeverAlways

I have accomplished many worthwhile things in this job.

NeverAlways

EXHAUSTION

—

CYNICISM

—

EFFICACY

—

RISK TIER

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