Why are brownouts getting more and more common in the work world?

Apr 9, 2026 5 min

About this episode

Research by productivity software provider Asana showed that 70% of knowledge workers experienced burnout in 2021. Now we’ve talked about the symptoms of burnout before on Do you Really Know. It's typically characterised by physical and emotional exhaustion at work, and considered a psychiatric condition. But in recent years, the younger generation has been reshaping workplace norms. Many young workers see personal fulfilment as more important than pay when it comes to their jobs. And that’s led to phenomenons like the Great Resignation, which saw record numbers of people quit for that very reason. What's the difference between a brownout and a burnout then? Does finding meaning at work really matter? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠Does the G spot really exist?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Is it a good idea to fall asleep to music?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What are the most popular and unusual baby names in the UK?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 20/6/2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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