The Burnout Doctor: Your 6-step recovery plan

by Dr Claire Ashley

Learn how to thrive at work while protecting your mental health with this compassionate and non-judgemental guide to burnout.

Burnout is a very real problem in society today with studies showing that cases amongst British workers have increased by 48% in recent years. It can be truly devastating for individuals and Dr Claire knows this because she's been there too. Burning out early on in her career as a GP, Dr Claire knows first-hand which techniques and strategies for recovering and prevention are the most effective, and she's eager to share these with you now.

Drawing on her own lived experience, and her professional background in neuroscience and medicine, Dr Claire helps us look at burnout from all what it is and its impact on our bodies; how to spot the signs in ourselves and in others; changes we can make in ourselves and in our environment to help us; and finally how we can shape our careers to help sustain our recovery and continue to thrive.

Based on the latest scientific research and real-life case studies, The Burnout Doctor provides evidence-based practical advice to help you spot burnout, prevent it, recover and stay recovered. Dr Claire offers you a helping hand every step along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Psychology

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful and interactive! she fixed me<3

[CJ Opal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much since the publishing industry is oversaturated with self help books about how capitalism and the need to work to live is ruining our lives (and you can take it back with these six steps!), but this book was actually super helpful. I don't recommend the audiobook, since the advice offered is pretty cyclical and you often have to go back and forth between steps, which is difficult to do without a physical copy in front of you. Ashley is careful not to guarantee results and advocates for the reader to get outside help if their issues throw up any mental health red flags. The exercises in each step are clearly explained both in terms of how to complete them and what the intention is behind them. Ashley's clear and direct communication keeps expectations realistic and fosters trust for what is likely to be a long recovery journey. I'll be purchasing a physical copy to keep on my shelf.

[Mckenna King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is better to actually read in physical form rather than listening to it (which is what I did). But it let me come to some extremely hard conclusions about my life and my work. It teaches you step by step how to recover from burnout. When you’re too tired to think, this book thinks for you and meets you where you are. So refreshing and life giving.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recent research shows that one in five of us have taken time off work due to stress and burnout over the last year. Dr Claire Ashley is a GP and neuroscientist who has first-hand experience of burnout and recovery. Take the quiz to find out your burnout level, identify what workplace and personality factors can be affecting you, and start your six-step recovery plan so you can begin to feel better.

This book appeared to me (on Libro.fm app) at the right time, as I came to the tail end of my one-month leave and was bracing to return to work with its crazy backlog and demands. So of course, I picked it up.

Offering sensible tips to recognise the symptoms of burnout and advices to overcome them, this was a great reminder to pause and self-assess. One thing to note is that the workplace examples provided aren’t for people in leadership or executive positions, so they might not be for everyone. However, the underlying principles still work across different roles.

The 6-step process was simple and easy to remember. I did the quiz and found that while I was on the precipice of a burnout, I wasn’t in the middle of it (yet!) - although it could be influenced by the fact that I’d just had the above-mentioned one-month holiday. I appreciated the constant reminder throughout the book to be kind to yourself and not let the book become yet another reason to add pressure to your life.

I’d recommend this book to anyone with highly packed schedule in life, regardless of whether it has turned into an overwhelming pressure or not. Better be prepared, I’d say!

(Thanks to Libro.fm and Bloomsbury Publishing for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[JessQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Burnout Doctor - Your 6 - Step Recovery Plan
By Dr Claire Ashley

Thanks to the ALC program by @librofm I was able to enjoy this wonderful book about a topic that concerns us all: burnout. It is clear, it is doable and above all Ashley keeps it real.

This book goes from the proper definition of what can be considered burnout, to its symptoms and clear examples of what can be described as burnout syndrome.

Ashley presents us with exercises, annotations, examples and extremely useful material to cope with burnout. At the same time, she makes it very clear that this book under any point of view replaces therapy.

Acknowledging the problem is key to overcoming it and here you will find yourself in many chapters taking down notes and wondering: Where was this book?

Go for it, pen and paper in hand and I’ll find you right on the other side of burnout!❤️‍🩹

Favorite exercise:
❤️‍🩹“I have the right to be treated fairly and respectfully.
I have the right to make my needs equally important to those of others.
I have the right to decline unreasonable requests, in a way that is fair and respectful.
I have the right to be fallible, imperfect and make mistakes.
I have the right to ask for what I want, in a way that is fair and respectful.
I have the right to honestly state my thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions, in a way that is fair and respectful.
I have the right to ... [write your own sentence here]”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to The Burnout Doctor by Dr. Claire Ashley, and honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time for me. That said, I’d recommend grabbing the actual book or digital copy instead of the audio. Dr. Ashley designed the book so you can skip around and “build your own burnout recovery” based on where you are right now, which is way easier to do when you have the book in front of you.

What I really liked is how realistic and down to earth her advice is. She’s clear about what you can actually change at work (and what you can’t), and she constantly reminds you to be kind to yourself. That there is no pressure to “fix” everything overnight.

The 6-step process is simple, the quiz was super eye opening for me, and the tips are things anyone can apply, no matter how busy life gets. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or even if you just want to stay ahead of burnout, this book is 100% worth checking out.

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ad, gifted an uncorrected proof by Bloomsbury Publishing.

This book is perfect for anyone who is falling into, or is currently in a state of burn out due to work. I myself have noticed signs and symptoms of burn out in my life so some of the sections of this book were really helpful. For those readers who are currently experiencing burnout, there are further tools and strategies to support this. I would definitely recommend to anyone struggling within their work place and I will definitely come back to my copy during times of need.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great as an audiobook because there are a lot of exercises and journaling prompts. This would be a 4* rating in a physical or ebook and I plan to get a copy for future reference. Genuinely useful. If you want to read it as a manager, or friend or family member of someone suffering with burnout, would recommend a library copy if you can get one, since you probably won’t need to read it more than once.

[Motahare Yadegarfar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book may as well have been written about me or by me. Burnout is unfortunately experienced far too often by healthcare workers and this book gives very helpful advice and strategies for coping with and preventing further burnouts. I’d recommend this book to anyone who works in a high stress environment and is at risk of burnout.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for anyone who is beginning to experience burn out at work. This book will be best to pick up at the beginning of experiencing symptoms. It’s extremely practical, realistic, and has lots of interactive parts to really help you address burnout.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stop making me cry thanks

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Izzy]

Audiobook

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often find it hard to rate these kinds of books. This was practical, hands on, and well researched (while being very accessible and readable).

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful book, I think I will need to read it again a few months down the line.

[Bronwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that empowered me to be proactive in addressing my burnout. listened as an audiobook

[Vui Lên · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep. I’m burned out. 🤣

[Ananya thefoodandbooklife · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a guide on how to recognize signs of burnout, how to avoid burnout, and how to get yourself out of burnout. The author provides real-life examples of what burnout could look like for different people and what could be done to combat it. I loved how the author was realistic in her suggestions of what can be changed at the workplace and what couldn't be changed. She also made sure to reiterate that people should seek professional help if they are already experiencing burnout or have thoughts of self-harm. The book included practical steps that all of us could possibly use to avoid falling into the burnout cycle.