BURN OUT -TOPIC VOCABULARY - BUSINESS WORLD

Oct 1, 2026

Learning material centered on workplace burnout: it introduces burnout as mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion from prolonged stress, explains the extended “fight or flight” response and its effects on thinking, and outlines potential health consequences. It also provides discussion questions, a vocabulary preview and review tied to bold words, and short-term and prevention strategies such as movement, cold showers, setting work boundaries, prioritizing, and seeking support from loved ones.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Burnout

Pre-Reading

Vocabulary Preview

Reading

Comprehension

Vocabulary Review

Grammar Review

Discussion Starters Burnout Pre-Reading A. Warm-Up Questions 1. Is work culture more stressful now than it was 50 years ago? 2. How does the human body react to stress? 3. What are some things you do to relieve stress? B. Vocabulary Preview Scan the article on the next page and find the correct word in bold. 1. a word that describes natural substances in the body that regulate cells and organs 2. a synonym for “extreme tiredness” 3. a synonym for “limits” 4. a word that describes the identification of an illness [5. an](5. an) antonym of “trivialize” 6. a synonym of “signal” 7. a word related to the inability to sleep [8. an](8. an) antonym of “shortened” 9. a word that means “put in too much effort” 10. a word that means “a feeling of bitterness toward others” Copyright 2021, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only. ( INT – HIGH INT / VERSION 1. 0) 1 Burnout Discussion Starters Reading BURNOUT Is workplace stress affecting your health? 1. Does your job cause you to feel anxious? Does worrying about work keep you awake at night? If you answered yes, you may be suffering from burnout. Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged periods of stress in the workplace. It usually happens when a person feels unable to meet constant demands. 2. When burnout occurs, the brain goes into an extended “fight or flight” response. A fight or flight response is the reaction of a person’s nervous system to danger. The body’s stress hormones and heart rate rapidly increase and the brain loses access to frontal lobe functions including logic and decision-making. As a result, the person feels like they can’t think clearly. 3. Burnout can lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and resentfulness. People experiencing burnout may become less productive and even begin to doubt their personal identity. While burnout is not a medical diagnosis, it often causes health problems like depression, substance abuse, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, insomnia, and a weakened immune system. 4. Signs of burnout can be difficult to recognize, but changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and energy levels are often indicators. Once the signs of burnout are identified, the best way to treat it is to take a significant break from work. It’s important to not only reduce stress, but also prioritize joy and fun. 5. There are also short-term strategies a person can use when they feel themselves dealing with excessive stress. The first strategy involves movement. Movement decreases the body’s level of cortisol, a stress hormone. Fifteen to twenty minutes of exercise can clear excess cortisol from blood. The second strategy involves lowering the heart rate by rapidly changing the body’s temperature with a cold shower. 6. Of course, it’s better to prevent burnout than to deal with it once it has already happened. A good way for people to avoid burnout is for them to set boundaries at work. This means that they must sometimes say no when asked to do something so that they do not overextend themselves. It’s also important to set priorities in general. What matters to you? Work might be important, but it cannot always be the number one priority. You also need to make room for other aspects of life, like family and hobbies, and to regularly reach out to loved ones for support. “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” —Anne Lamott, American author Copyright 2021, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only. ( INT – HIGH INT / VERSION 1. 0) 2 Burnout Discussion Starters Comprehension Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook. 1. What is burnout? 2. What happens during a fight or flight response? 3. What health issues can be caused by burnout? 4. What short-term strategies are mentioned in the reading to deal with stress? 5. Why is it import

FAQs

What is burnout, according to the reading?

Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged workplace stress, usually when constant demands feel impossible to meet.

What happens in the brain during a fight or flight response?

During burnout-related fight or flight, stress hormones and heart rate rise rapidly, and the brain loses access to frontal lobe functions such as logic and decision-making, making it hard to think clearly.

What short-term strategies are suggested to deal with excessive stress?

The reading suggests movement to decrease cortisol levels and about fifteen to twenty minutes of exercise, and a cold shower to rapidly change body temperature and help lower the heart rate.

Oct 1, 2026

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