Tips for Preventing Burnout, According to Neuroscientist Erwan Devèze
Burnout remains a major threat in the workplace, even as we approach 2025. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on mental and psychological distress, mental health in the workplace remains a taboo subject in many professional settings. During a captivating webinar led by Anne-Charlotte Vuccino, CEO of Yogist, Erwan Devèze, an expert in neuroscience applied to management, shared essential insights for better understanding, preventing, and addressing this scourge. In this article, discover the key takeaways: from the evolution of burnout to concrete strategies for combating it, including the crucial role of managers and employees.
Erwan Devèze is a leading authority on the application of cognitive science to management. His work aims to help companies understand how the brain functions in professional contexts such as decision-making, cooperation, and conflict management.
His conclusion is clear: by gaining a better understanding of how our brains work, organizations can transform their work environments to foster well-being, reduce stress, and ultimately improve their performance.
Burnout: What Has Changed Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Erwan Devèze:
The pandemic has served as a wake-up call: burnout spares no sector or demographic.
According to Erwan Devèze, burnout is a form of occupational exhaustion that affects the body, mind, and emotions. While people have become more open about it since the onset of COVID, mental health indicators remain alarming. Chronic stress, mental overload, and unresolved tensions continue to build up insidiously.
Recognizing the warning signs
Unlike an acute illness, burnout develops gradually. Among the warning signs identified by Erwan Devèze are:
- nervousness
- persistent anxiety
- difficulty learning or remembering
- a loss of the ability to regulate one's emotions
These symptoms are often exacerbated by a lack of sleep and, more generally, an unhealthy lifestyle. These factors, which may seem insignificant at first, eventually take a heavy toll on one’s mental and physical well-being.
The causes of burnout: a balance between organizational and individual responsibilities
Erwan Devèze emphasizes that burnout is the result of a combination of organizational and individual factors.
From the company's perspective
- Constant pressure exacerbated by competition and economic uncertainties
- Harmful management practices based on fear and instability
- Information overload (infobesity), which fuels multitasking and distraction
On the individual level
- Extreme perfectionism or constant overcommitment
- A reliance on others to validate one's worth
- Denying the warning signs (“Things will get better after the holidays.”)
This mounting pressure turns people into "pressure cookers" ready to explode. Until the day the body says "enough," leading to a complete breakdown.
Why linking mental health and physical health is vital
Mental health is now a national priority, but it is still too often viewed separately from physical health. Yet these two aspects are intrinsically linked.
Erwan Devèze points out that our brain, a key organ for our well-being, functions like a machine. If not properly cared for, it risks breaking down, with serious consequences for the body. Mental health issues such as burnout can thus lead to physical conditions such as immune disorders.
Let’s take inspiration from elite athletes like Léon Marchand and Teddy Riner, who place just as much emphasis on mental preparation as on physical training to excel.
How to Prevent Burnout: Solutions for Every Level
Erwan Devèze:
Organizational-level actions
Companies play a key role in creating a work environment that fosters employee well-being. Implementing a strategy focused on quality of life and working conditions is no longer an option, but a necessity. Among the actions to be taken:
- reduce cognitive overload through better management of information flows
- train managers in supportive and collaborative practices
- encourage breaks to help teams conserve their mental energy
Individual initiatives
Every employee can also take steps to improve their own well-being:
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes sleep, diet, and physical activity
- Learn how to conserve your mental energy by avoiding distractions (notifications, multitasking)
- Practice techniques such as cardiac coherence to manage stress
Tip: Sleep is a valuable ally in flushing toxins from the brain and boosting memory. Investing in quality sleep means setting yourself up for more peaceful days.
“Understanding how our brain works empowers us to take control of it. In the workplace, this understanding becomes a real asset for prioritizing what matters and avoiding burnout.”
Wellness Break: Try Cardiac Coherence!
Simple, accessible, and scientifically proven, cardiac coherence promotes mental and physical well-being. Take five minutes to breathe slowly and deeply: it’s the perfect way to relieve stress and restore your inner calm.
Burnout is not inevitable. By combining organizational and individual efforts and rethinking our relationship with work, it is possible to prevent this state of exhaustion. Together, companies and employees can build a future where well-being goes hand in hand with performance.
Watch the full webinar:
