Jana Cook has suffered from burnout twice in her professional career. Both episodes began with a gradual onset of signs and symptoms — including trouble sleeping, extreme fatigue and difficulty completing basic tasks — which culminated in having to take up to six months' leave from her corporate job to recover. "In both instances there was a tipping point — a moment in time where I just kind of felt like I 'broke,'" said Cook, who currently lives in Claresholm, Alta.
"I went from doing all of the things, to doing none of the things." Cook did eventually recover, learning important lessons about slowing down and stress management in the process. She now draws on her own experiences to help others, marketing herself as a "burnout prevention and recovery coach" for people worn down by the corporate grind.
"Burnout coaches" and "burnout recovery specialists" are increasingly popping up across Canada, the U.S., the U.
K., Australia and Europe. Rarely are they licensed therapists or psychologists — instead they are usually people who, like Cook, have obtained certification from the International Coaching Federation and have spent a great deal of time researching workplace burnout and its causes.
Other burnout coaches have taken courses in stress reduction techniques, mindfulness, even hypnosis. While their backgrounds may vary, all burnout coaches cater to the growing number of workers who say they are stressed out, overwhelmed and struggling to cope. A November 2023 survey .