Today, burnout is often described as a modern condition, driven by constant connectivity, emails and rising workplace demands. Yet anxiety over excessive work is far from new. Victorian society was already grappling with what it called ‘overwork,’ seen as a defining problem of a rapidly changing world.
Industrial expansion, railways and the telegraph accelerated the pace of life, creating a sense of constant pressure. For many, professional strain became a recognised threat to both physical and mental health.
When overwork was seen as a badge of honour
The Victorians placed great value on work. Philosopher Thomas Carlyle described the mindset of the era as the ‘Gospel of Work’. At the same time, concern was growing about the health consequences of relentless labour.
In the United States, neurologist George Beard introduced the concept of neurasthenia, a condition linked to nervous exhaustion. In Britain, however, overwork was often seen differently – as something masculine, even admirable, and at times a sign of professional success.
Much like modern discussions around executive burnout, the issue largely focused on professionals and the upper classes, while the working class – despite harsh conditions – remained outside the conversation.
Early warnings from doctors
One of the first to study the phenomenon was physician Charles Henry Felix Routh. His book On Overwork and Premature Mental Decay went through multiple editions in the late 19th century, reflecting growing concern over the impact of excessive work.
Routh described cases such as Dr Golding Bird, a successful physician advised to reduce his workload. He was urged to take six weeks of annual leave, or risk becoming ‘a successful professional, but a dying old man.’ He ignored the warning and died weeks later at the age of 39.
Travel as treatment
For those suffering from exhaustion, the recommended remedy – at least for the wealthy – was travel, often to health resorts in Europe.
Scottish publisher William Chambers described his recovery in Wintering at Menton (1870), after his health collapsed under the strain of public office. He praised the mild climate of the French Riviera and warned that many people died prematurely after ‘succumbing to the feverish and almost irrational struggle of life.’
The rise of Menton
Menton, on the French Riviera, became a leading destination for recovery. Physician James Henry Bennett played a key role, publishing works such as Menton and the Riviera as a Winter Climate (1861).
Bennett, who had suffered from tuberculosis after years of overwork, moved to Menton and saw significant improvement in his health. He later opened a practice there, and the town evolved into a major health resort with a strong British presence.
Prominent figures, including Queen Victoria and writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson, were among those who travelled there seeking recovery.
A return to nature
Bennett was a key figure in ‘medical climatology,’ the idea that environment and climate could treat illness. In contrast to polluted industrial cities, patients were encouraged to spend time outdoors, walk, and benefit from sunlight and fresh air.
Even frail patients were advised to move between sheltered, sunlit locations. Contact with nature was seen as central to recovery, rather than medication alone.
‘Legitimate idleness’
Unlike modern short breaks, Bennett recommended extended stays – at least three winters in Menton – for those suffering from exhaustion.
His approach promoted what could be described as ‘legitimate idleness’: a slower, reflective lifestyle free from constant pressure.
Historical accounts from the time show that treatment for exhaustion relied heavily on time itself. In response to an increasingly fast-paced world, Victorian doctors prescribed something radically simple – rest, nature and a slower rhythm of life.
Source: in.gr
