"Good at Work but Feeling Lethargic"... Young Office Workers Just Waiting for Their Days Off [Youth Report]

'Toast Out' Before Burnout
Faithfully Carrying Out Tasks Even Without Motivation

Recently, more young office workers have been complaining of experiencing 'Toast Out' symptoms. Toast Out is a metaphor for the state just before toast burns black when toasted for too long, referring to the condition of fatigue and lethargy right before burnout (a state of extreme physical and mental exhaustion). While there are various causes, stress and boredom from repetitive daily routines are considered the main reasons.

"Let's stop being toast"... 'Toast Out' memes popular on SNS

[Image source=Pixabay]

Recently, memes about Toast Out have been trending on social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter and Instagram. Netizens are posting photos of toast browned to a dark shade or their own drawings of toast to indicate that they are in a Toast Out state. They post messages like, "I'm totally in a Toast Out state. If left unattended, it leads to burnout, so let's find fun and relaxing things and stop being toast."

Toast Out is a phenomenon different from the widely known burnout. Burnout occurs when one is excessively absorbed in work and suddenly feels extreme fatigue and lethargy, like fuel that has completely burned out. Burnout is so common among modern people that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as an 'occupational phenomenon' in the International Classification of Diseases.

While burnout is a state of complete depletion of energy and emotions, rendering one unable to do anything due to extreme lethargy, Toast Out differs in that even without motivation, one still diligently performs their tasks, so it is not obvious. In other words, Toast Out is a stage before burnout; if burnout is 'complete exhaustion,' Toast Out can be seen as the 'pre-exhaustion' state.

The important thing in a Toast Out state is 'rest'

[Image source=Pixabay]

In fact, many people experience both burnout and Toast Out. According to the '2030 Women’s Mental Health Report' released by Hanwha General Insurance Lifeplus in July, the proportion of women in their 20s and 30s who have experienced burnout increased from 63.4% in 2021 to 75.2% in 2023.

The most common negative emotions felt by women in their 20s and 30s were self-disgust (11.8%), responsibility (7.6%), and burden (4.5%). The self-disgust they felt was mainly related to their companies, and the concern about having to manage both work and family childcare led to feelings of responsibility. Additionally, burdens were felt due to issues related to age concerning future plans or marriage.

Even those who have not reached burnout but are experiencing Toast Out?being burnt black and on the verge of burnout?have increased. The best way to overcome a Toast Out state is 'rest.' Rest does not mean just sleeping lethargically but involves stepping away from daily life and having time for oneself.

Kim, a 29-year-old office worker with five years of experience who described herself as being in a 'Toast Out' state, said, "I can't show that I'm struggling at work, so I try my best with the tasks assigned to me. But sometimes, I get exhausted due to anxiety about the future." She added, "Before the anxiety worsens, I plan to take a vacation. During the vacation, I will turn off my work messenger and travel alone to Jeju Island."

'Bore-out' as the opposite concept to burnout

[Image source=Getty Images]

Meanwhile, the concept opposite to burnout is 'bore-out.' In Korean, it is also called 'gwon-tae syndrome' (권태증후군). While burnout is stress accumulated from being overly absorbed in work, bore-out is a state of loss of motivation caused by boring and monotonous tasks. In other words, it is a symptom of lethargy caused by boredom and skepticism from doing work that does not suit one's aptitude. It was first discussed in a book published by Swiss business consultants Philippe Rothlin and Peter R. Werder.

The problem with bore-out is that the lethargy continues even after leaving work. The fatigue from the company carries over to home, accumulating exhaustion that ultimately keeps wearing a person down. Rothlin and Werder, who introduced bore-out, said that ultimately, one’s own will is most important to resolve it. They stated, "Responsibility for one’s own actions is crucial," and "A positive attitude toward everything is necessary."