Am I burned out? Take the burnout test

Burnout builds slowly, so it's easy to miss until you're already running low. This short test measures how exhausted you are in three areas: your life overall, your work, and your work with people.

About 3 minutes, no sign-up

How to read your scores

Each area is scored from 0 to 100. The test doesn't add them up: burnout can sit in one part of life and not the others.

Below 50: low.

You get tired, but you still recover.

50 to 74: moderate.

Recovery is falling behind. Worth paying attention to now.

75 to 99: high.

Exhaustion has become the norm rather than the exception.

100: severe.

The highest possible score. Talk to a doctor.

  • Personal shows how drained you feel overall, whatever the cause.
  • Work shows how much of it you link to your job.
  • People shows how much working with clients, patients or students wears you down.

What this is based on

This test uses the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), developed by researchers at Denmark's National Research Centre for the Working Environment and published in 2005. It's widely used in studies of nurses, teachers, doctors and office workers, and it's free to use. The CBI treats burnout as long-lasting physical and emotional exhaustion, and measures it in three areas: your life overall, your work, and your work with people.

Since 2019, the World Health Organization has included burnout in its International Classification of Diseases as an occupational phenomenon: the result of chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed. It isn't classified as a medical condition.

Read more about the science behind Sōma →

FAQ

Is burnout the same as depression?

No, though they overlap. Burnout is tied to exhaustion and usually to work, and it often eases when the pressure changes. Depression affects mood and interest in almost everything, including things you used to enjoy. If you're not sure which you're dealing with, a doctor or therapist can help you tell them apart.

How is this different from the Maslach Burnout Inventory?

The MBI is the best-known burnout questionnaire, but it's licensed and paid. The CBI focuses on the core of burnout, exhaustion, and is free to use, which is why we chose it.

Can I take this test if I don't have a paid job?

Yes. If you care for children or relatives full time, answer the work questions with that role in mind. It's work, even if it isn't paid.

How long does burnout recovery take?

It varies. Milder burnout can ease within weeks once the load drops and rest becomes regular. Deeper burnout often takes months. What matters most is changing the conditions that caused it and building recovery into ordinary days, rather than waiting for a holiday.

Related tools

This test is a self-reflection tool, not a medical or psychological assessment. If you're struggling, please talk to a doctor or a mental health professional.