We’re all aware of the epidemic of burnout, with close to 50% of people saying they are often or always exhausted at work. That’s twice as many as 20 years ago. But did you know of the connection between burnout and loneliness?

In Burnout at Work Isn’t Just About Exhaustion. It’s Also About Loneliness researchers demonstrate a significant correlation between feeling lonely and work exhaustion: The more people are exhausted, the lonelier they feel. “This loneliness,” they say, “is not a result of social isolation, as you might think, but rather is due to the emotional exhaustion of workplace burnout.”

And if you thought burnout was bad for you, loneliness is even worse.

  • Loneliness has a tremendous impact on psychological and physical health and longevity.
  • While obesity reduces longevity by 20%, drinking by 30%, and smoking by 50%, loneliness reduces it by a whopping 70%.
  • Loneliness increases your chance of stroke or coronary heart disease by 30%.
  • Loneliness costs employers billions of dollars each year and employee burnout costs hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

On the other hand, feelings of social connection can strengthen our immune systemlengthen our life, and lower rates of anxiety and depression.

What an opportunity for the church! Not only can we offer the grace of rest and peace but the grace of community and fellowship.