Free burnout questionnaire: Check your symptoms online
Persistent exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, emotional detachment, and feeling unable to recover after work or a weekend are common symptoms of burnout. This free online burnout questionnaire helps you evaluate whether prolonged stress may be contributing to these symptoms and whether your current level of exhaustion warrants further attention.
The questionnaire takes approximately five minutes to complete and is based on the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) [2], a widely used scientific questionnaire that measures two central aspects of burnout: exhaustion and disengagement. These dimensions often develop gradually and may affect work performance, motivation, relationships, and overall wellbeing long before people recognize they are heading toward a burnout.
Although this questionnaire cannot provide a formal diagnosis, it can serve as an early screening tool. If your score suggests elevated burnout symptoms, you may also find it helpful to learn more about the causes of burnout, available treatment options, and the differences between burnout and depression.
Quick facts about this burnout questionnaire
- Free and anonymous online burnout questionnaire
- Takes approximately 5 minutes to complete
- Based on the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory
- Measures exhaustion and disengagement symptoms
- Provides personalized feedback and recommendations
- Can help identify early warning signs of burnout
Take the free burnout questionnaire
Need help understanding your result?
If your result suggests elevated burnout symptoms, professional support may help you understand the causes and begin recovery.
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What does this burnout questionnaire measure?
This burnout questionnaire is based on the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), one of the most widely used scientific instruments for assessing burnout symptoms [2]. Rather than providing a simple overall score, the questionnaire evaluates two central dimensions that research consistently associates with burnout: exhaustion and disengagement.
Exhaustion reflects the physical, mental, and emotional depletion that develops after prolonged stress without sufficient recovery. Disengagement refers to becoming increasingly detached from work, losing enthusiasm, and experiencing greater emotional distance or cynicism toward everyday responsibilities.
These dimensions often develop slowly over months. Many people continue meeting deadlines and fulfilling responsibilities long before they recognize how much their energy and recovery capacity have declined. Learn more about the symptoms of burnout and how they typically develop over time.
Burnout is not a DSM-5 diagnosis
Burnout is not classified as an official mental disorder in the DSM-5. Instead, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes burnout in the ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Because of this, no online burnout questionnaire can provide a formal diagnosis. Instead, questionnaires such as the OLBI are best viewed as screening tools that help identify patterns of exhaustion and disengagement that may warrant further attention. If symptoms become persistent or begin affecting work, relationships, or daily functioning, professional assessment is recommended.
Your burnout score is only part of the picture
This burnout questionnaire measures important symptoms such as exhaustion and disengagement. However, it cannot explain why two people with similar burnout scores become exhausted for completely different reasons.
The 20–80 Method looks beyond symptoms by identifying the professional operating patterns that influence how stress accumulates. Understanding these patterns can help explain what is driving burnout and where recovery should begin.
Operator Burnout
Operators often keep going long after their body and mind are asking for recovery. A high burnout questionnaire score may reflect months of execution, responsibility, and pressure without enough time to reset.
Exhaustion is experienced as depleted energy, reduced tolerance for additional demands, and the sense that even ordinary tasks require more effort than before.
Architect Burnout
Architects often become overloaded when complexity keeps expanding and problems remain structurally unresolved. A high questionnaire score may reflect cognitive fatigue rather than only emotional exhaustion.
Exhaustion is experienced as mental saturation, frustration with disorder, and difficulty recovering while unfinished systems or responsibilities remain active in the background.
Comparison: Operator vs Architect Burnout
| Pattern |
Operator |
Architect |
|---|---|---|
| High score may reflect | Too much execution without enough recovery | Too much complexity without enough resolution |
| Typical thoughts | “I just need to get through this.” | “This system should work better than this.” |
| What others often see | Pushing through, physical fatigue | Mental overload, frustration, withdrawal into analysis |
| Recovery focus | Reduce pace, stop constant execution | Simplify systems, reduce cognitive load |
A burnout questionnaire can show that exhaustion and disengagement are present, but it cannot fully explain the pattern behind them. An Operator may need to interrupt constant execution, whereas an Architect often needs to reduce unresolved complexity and mental load.
Frequently asked questions about the burnout questionnaire
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the questionnaire, burnout symptoms, and interpreting your results.
Is this burnout questionnaire free?
Yes. The questionnaire is completely free and anonymous. It can help you reflect on common burnout symptoms, including exhaustion, disengagement, and chronic stress.
How long does the burnout questionnaire take?
Most people complete the questionnaire in approximately five minutes.
Can this questionnaire diagnose burnout?
No. It is a screening tool and cannot replace a professional assessment. It can, however, indicate whether your symptoms are consistent with burnout and whether further evaluation may be helpful.
What is the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory?
The questionnaire is based on the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), a scientifically validated instrument that measures two important burnout dimensions: exhaustion and disengagement from work.
What should I do if my score is high?
A high score suggests that chronic stress may be affecting your wellbeing. Consider improving recovery, reducing ongoing overload, and seeking professional support if symptoms persist or interfere with work or daily life.
Is burnout the same as depression?
No. Burnout and depression share several symptoms but are different conditions. Burnout is primarily linked to prolonged stress, whereas depression affects mood and functioning across many areas of life.
Can burnout affect relationships?
Yes. Burnout often reduces emotional availability, patience, communication, and stress tolerance, which can place strain on relationships and family life.
Can therapy help after taking this questionnaire?
Yes. Therapy can help you understand the patterns contributing to burnout, improve recovery, strengthen boundaries, and develop healthier ways of coping with chronic stress.
Literature
- [1] Bakker, A. B., Schaufeli, W. B., Demerouti, E., Janssen, P. P., Van Der Hulst, R., & Brouwer, J. (2000). Using equity theory to examine the difference between burn-out and depression.
- [2] Demerouti, E., & Bakker, A. B. (2008). The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory: A good alternative to measure burnout and engagement. Handbook of Stress and Burnout in Health Care, 65-78.