Understanding Burnout: Lessons from Physics for Recovery

In a personal reflection, Zahaan Bharmal, a professional at Google and recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medal, explores the intersection of burnout and physics. After experiencing job loss in 2001, Bharmal found solace in the principles of physics, which helped him understand the chaotic nature of life and work. This insight not only guided him through his recovery but also highlighted a broader issue affecting many workers today.

Bharmal’s journey began with a firm belief in the predictability of the universe, grounded in Newton’s second law of motion. This belief, which states that force equals mass times acceleration, shaped his perspective as a teenager and later as a university student studying physics. However, the unexpected redundancy from his first job shattered this notion, revealing that life often defies the laws of physics.

The summer of 2001 marked a significant turning point for Bharmal. The dotcom bubble burst triggered widespread layoffs, including those at his management consultancy. This event was not an isolated incident; it echoed through history with the 2008 sub-prime mortgage crisis, the 2011 eurozone crisis, and subsequent market fluctuations in 2013 and 2015.

These crises exemplify chaotic systems, where minor disturbances can lead to substantial consequences. Bharmal draws parallels between these economic events and the three-body problem in physics. In this scenario, while two celestial bodies can predictably orbit each other, introducing a third creates a complex and unpredictable system. This unpredictability is mirrored in our lives, where small changes can lead to unexpected outcomes.

Faced with the aftermath of his job loss, Bharmal realized that many individuals respond to life’s unpredictability by exerting more control. He, like countless others, believed that relentless work would secure success. Yet, physics indicates that operating at maximum capacity can lead to fragility. For instance, power grids function optimally with a buffer or surge capacity. Operating at full capacity can cause failures during unexpected demands.

Bharmal’s experience underscores a significant issue within contemporary work culture. A report from Mental Health UK indicates that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme stress in the past year, with young workers feeling particularly strained. Many are compelled to work unpaid overtime, with 84% of desk workers reporting pressure to work additional hours regularly. This environment creates a workforce akin to power grids running at full capacity, leading to widespread burnout.

Burnout often manifests suddenly, similar to a phase transition in physics. Stress accumulates gradually until reaching a critical threshold, at which point the system can no longer sustain itself. Bharmal emphasizes the importance of building personal surge capacity and incorporating recovery into daily life. He advocates for recognizing that resilience necessitates inefficiency, suggesting that robust systems must allow for slack to thrive.

The findings from the recent Keep Britain Working review reveal a concerning trend of individuals withdrawing from the workforce due to mental health conditions. Bharmal argues that the expectation to operate continuously at maximum capacity may be a fundamental flaw in the current work model, contributing to rising burnout rates.

Reflecting on his journey, Bharmal concludes that while Newton’s second law remains relevant, it is crucial to understand the need for balance. Success does not solely depend on the force applied; knowing when to ease off is equally important. By applying these insights from physics to our lives, individuals can better navigate the complexities of modern work and prevent burnout.