From burnout to balance: the role of lifelong learning

Burnout is a growing global concern, affecting not only the workplace but also family and social life. Recognized by the WHO as an occupational phenomenon, it involves emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment (WHO, 2019), and is often called a “silent crisis” due to its widespread yet under-addressed nature (Pai, 2020). Research shows burnout impacts both professional and personal roles, including among working and stay-at-home mothers in Malaysia, who experience similar pressures (Moulton et al., 2024). Beyond exhaustion, burnout diminishes a sense of achievement and strains relationships. Lifelong learning—the continuous, self-motivated pursuit of knowledge can help mitigate burnout by fostering adaptability, resilience, self-efficacy, and renewed purpose (Candy, 2002), offering a pathway from burnout to balance.