{"id":164335,"date":"2022-07-19T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/nootropics-for-burnout\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:53:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T13:53:34","slug":"nootropics-for-burnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/nootropics-for-burnout\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Burnout? Can Nootropics Help?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There\u2019s no escaping workplace stress. No matter what field of work you\u2019re in, even if you\u2019re passionate about the job, there\u2019s always a risk of experiencing burnout. In this blog post, we\u2019ll talk about this increasingly common occupational phenomenon. More importantly, we\u2019ll find out if nootropics &#8211; like our very own<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/product\/phosphatidylserine-100mg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Soy-Free Phosphatidylserine<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 can help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is burnout? Is it the same as stress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to mistake stress for burnout. But they\u2019re not the same thing. <strong>Everyone experiences stress, but not everyone will experience burnout.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stress per se isn\u2019t actually all that bad. It\u2019s even beneficial in some cases. But only the \u201cgood\u201d kind of stress (a.k.a. <strong>eustress<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/the-good-stress-how-eustress-helps-you-grow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eustress<\/a> can get the brain firing on all cylinders. It\u2019s also a good motivator in the workplace. It can harness your energy and mental capabilities to focus on a particular task (maybe there\u2019s a deadline coming up).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the \u201cbad\u201d kind of stress? Well, we can all do away with that, that\u2019s for sure! Unmanaged \u201cbad\u201d stress can become chronic and cause burnout, which is why\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World Health Organization<\/a> defines burnout as an \u201coccupational phenomenon brought about by <strong>unmanaged chronic stress<\/strong> in the workplace\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Burnout isn\u2019t classified as a medical condition, but <strong>anyone showing the following symptoms may be on their way to experiencing full-blown burnout<\/strong> (1):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Feelings of utter and complete exhaustion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apathy and indifference to the job and its outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of motivation leading to reduced productivity and efficacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s at risk of getting burnt out?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/monitor\/2022\/01\/special-burnout-stress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">American Psychological Association<\/a>, caretaking professions like healthcare workers and teachers are \u201cuniquely prone to high rates of burnout\u201d. But really, anyone who\u2019s overworked and undervalued for an extended period is at risk of feeling burnt out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does burnout happen overnight?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No, it doesn\u2019t. There are <strong>several stages of burnout<\/strong>, which can happen progressively over a period of weeks, months, and even years until you finally reach your breaking point (the last stage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s break down how the whole thing happens (2):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re still new at the job, you\u2019re excited to prove to your teammates and bosses that they picked the right person for the job. You start out with <strong>a lot of enthusiasm<\/strong>. You\u2019re practically overflowing with ideas. You work hard every day, seeking validation and recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then you start feeling stressed and overwhelmed, but still push through with the <strong>work-comes-first mindset<\/strong>. You start sacrificing rest days and push away those closest to you. Sooner or later, the stress gets to you and cracks begin to appear, but you still <strong>deny there\u2019s a problem<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This negative turn of events starts to escalate. You feel <strong>empty, lost, tired, and maybe even depressed<\/strong>. Escaping or avoiding your problems doesn\u2019t work anymore. You feel <strong>mentally and emotionally broken<\/strong> inside. No matter what you do, <strong>you can no longer muster the energy or enthusiasm<\/strong> to do your job. At this point, you\u2019ve hit the proverbial wall. <strong>You\u2019re burnt out<\/strong>. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the main causes of burnout?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Burnout is a <strong>personal experience<\/strong>. The factors that may cause you to burn out may not affect other people the same way. Perhaps they react to stress differently, or they\u2019re able to maintain a positive outlook in life, or they have a strong support system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To give you an idea of how varied the reasons for burnout are, here are the results of a survey done on 250+ software engineers in the UK (3):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High workload (47%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal life (36%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inefficient processes (31%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unclear goals and targets (29%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of communication from team or management (27%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Management putting unrealistic demands on me (25%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Majority of the reasons given are related to work \u2013 too much workload, inefficient processes, unclear goals, and poor management. But over a third of respondents gave personal life as the reason for burnout. This is interesting because it may mean that these employees have trouble maintaining work-life balance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can nootropics help with burnout?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People experiencing low productivity at work and having trouble focusing on their workflow may benefit greatly from taking nootropics! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intelligentlabs.org\/what-are-nootropics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nootropics<\/a> are also known as <strong>smart drugs, cognitive enhancers, intelligence boosters, <\/strong>and<strong> brain vitamins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what makes a \u201cnootropic\u201d a nootropic? Corneliu Giurgea, the psychologist who coined the term, says these are the <strong>characteristics of nootropics<\/strong> (4):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nootropics enhance memory and learning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They help improve natural cognitive function<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They help protect the brain from both chemical and physical injuries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Must be safe and non-toxic and have very few side effects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They enhance the resistance of learned behaviors or memories to disruptive conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Various nootropics have different effects on the body. For instance, some compounds may have a more pronounced effect on <strong>memory<\/strong>, while others may be more helpful in the <strong>energy and productivity<\/strong> department. Others may help <strong>enhance mood, sleep, <\/strong>and<strong> relaxation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"phosphatidylserine is a natural nootropic that may help prevent burnout\" class=\"wp-image-252870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/uk-2020-08-17-phos-d1.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As you can see, <strong>all these different benefits of nootropics may go a long way towards alleviating the biggest signs of burnout <\/strong>\u2013 complete exhaustion, indifference, and lack of motivation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend <strong>single-ingredient nootropics<\/strong> for beginners, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/product\/phosphatidylserine-100mg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pure Phosphatidylserine<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This product is soy-free and made from sunflower lecithin. Phosphatidylserine is found in every cell membrane in the body. In fact, half of the body\u2019s store of <strong>phosphatidylserine is found in the brain<\/strong>. By <a href=\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/phosphatidylserine-the-ultimate-supplement-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">supplementing with phosphatidylserine<\/a>, you\u2019re giving your brain what it needs to function well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More tips to prevent burnout and stay motivated in the workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. In addition to taking nootropics, take note of these tips to avoid getting burnt out at work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1)&nbsp;&nbsp; Recognize the signs!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easier to treat something when you know what to look for. In addition to the 3 symptoms described by the WHO \u2013 complete exhaustion, apathy, and zero motivation \u2013 here are some other signs of burnout (5): \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Personality change<\/strong> \u2013 you\u2019re more irritable and impatient with everyone. You\u2019re becoming more cynical and more negative, maybe even depressed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diet change<\/strong> \u2013 you\u2019re either eating more junk or losing your appetite altogether.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sleep habits change<\/strong> \u2013 stress and anxiety cause you to overthink even in bed, affecting sleep quality. You may also not want to get out of bed at all.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Physical symptoms<\/strong> \u2013 frequent headaches, gut issues, lowered immunity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unhealthy coping mechanisms<\/strong> \u2013 smoking too much, taking drugs and\/or alcohol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduced performance at work<\/strong> \u2013 you were a star, but now everyone&#8217;s complaining about your work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2)&nbsp;&nbsp; Create boundaries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you work at home or at the office, clock in flexible hours or follow a set schedule, it\u2019s important to establish a clear boundary between work and home life. An always-on and always-available mindset may endear you to your colleagues, but it won\u2019t be good for you in the long run. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3)&nbsp;&nbsp; Exercise can help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular exercise can do a lot of wonders for your physical, mental, and emotional health! You can exercise at home, in the office, in the gym, or anywhere, really. You can spend as much money as you want on fancy equipment or keep it simple by doing body-weight exercises and using whatever\u2019s on hand! Just know your physical limitations though so you don\u2019t get injured in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4)&nbsp;&nbsp; Develop social life outside of work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to have a life outside the office. If your social circle only consists of people you work with, then it\u2019s much harder to create boundaries and achieve that work-life balance. Join a club or community that caters to your hobbies and interests. It will be something to look forward to on your days off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5)&nbsp;&nbsp; Look for a new job<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on your finances and the current job market, this is probably easier said than done. But if you\u2019re no longer happy with your current job, and you think no amount of intervention will make you change your mind, then maybe it\u2019s time to look for a new job. Your mental health must come first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just the highflyers and workaholics who are at risk of getting burnt out in the workplace. Everyone is! It\u2019s normal to feel stressed and anxious at work, but don\u2019t let your job consume your every waking moment. Hopefully, the tips we\u2019ve shared above, including taking nootropics to help with mental clarity, will help you make the right decisions to avoid burnout.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(1) \u201cBurn-out an \u2018Occupational Phenomenon\u2019: International Classification of Diseases.\u201d World Health Organization, 28 May 2019, www.who.int\/news\/item\/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(2) Stillman, Jessica. \u201cThe 12 Stages of Burnout, According to Psychologists.\u201d Inc.Com, 5 Jan. 2021, www.inc.com\/jessica-stillman\/the-12-stages-of-burnout-according-to-psychologist.html.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(3) Ali, Junade, and Junade Ali. \u201c83% of Developers Suffer From Burnout, Haystack Analytics Study Finds.\u201d Haystack, www.usehaystack.io\/blog\/83-of-developers-suffer-from-burnout-haystack-analytics-study-finds. Accessed 13 July 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(4) Giurgea, Corneliu E. \u201cThe Nootropic Concept and Its Prospective Implications.\u201d Drug Development Research, vol. 2, no. 5, 1982, pp. 441\u201346. Crossref, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ddr.430020505.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(5) \u201cHow to Watch for Signs of Burnout in Your Life.\u201d Verywell Mind, 23 May 2022, www.verywellmind.com\/stress-and-burnout-symptoms-and-causes-3144516.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s no escaping workplace stress. No matter what field of work you\u2019re in, even if you\u2019re passionate about the job, there\u2019s always a risk of experiencing burnout. In this blog post, we\u2019ll talk about this increasingly common occupational phenomenon. More importantly, we\u2019ll find out if nootropics &#8211; like our very own Soy-Free Phosphatidylserine \u2013 can&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1855],"tags":[1785,1786],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-164335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellbeing","tag-nootropic","tag-phosphatidylserine"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":1855,"label":"Wellbeing"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1785,"label":"Nootropic"},{"value":1786,"label":"Phosphatidylserine"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-burnout-can-nootropics-help-01-1024x512.jpg",1024,512,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"David Pashley","author_link":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/author\/david\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":1855,"name":"Wellbeing","slug":"wellbeing","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1855,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":43,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":1855,"category_count":43,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Wellbeing","category_nicename":"wellbeing","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":1785,"name":"Nootropic","slug":"nootropic","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1785,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1786,"name":"Phosphatidylserine","slug":"phosphatidylserine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1786,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"}],"wpml":{"language":"en-ie","is_original":false,"original_post_id":130851,"translations":{"en-gb":{"id":130851,"language":"en-gb","is_original":true},"en-ie":{"id":164335,"language":"en-ie","is_original":false},"en-mt":{"id":165597,"language":"en-mt","is_original":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164335"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252897,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164335\/revisions\/252897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164335"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=164335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}