What are the actual warning signs of burnout, and how is it different from just being tired?

Feeling completely drained by work lately but not sure if it's normal tiredness or something more serious like burnout. How do you tell the difference?

Ordinary tiredness tends to improve with rest — a weekend off, a good night's sleep, or a vacation genuinely helps. Burnout is more persistent and doesn't fully lift with normal rest; it tends to show up as a combination of a few things: emotional exhaustion that feels bigger than the actual workload explains, a growing sense of cynicism or detachment from work you used to care about, and a drop in your own sense of effectiveness even when your output hasn't actually declined. Physical signs like trouble sleeping, frequent headaches, or getting sick more often can show up too. It's not a formal medical diagnosis on its own, but it's a recognized occupational phenomenon, and it's worth taking seriously rather than pushing through — talking to a doctor or therapist is reasonable if it's persistent, and if it's connected to a specific work situation, it's also worth being honest with yourself about whether the environment itself needs to change, not just your coping strategies.