UK Burnout Crisis: Study Finds Which Cities Are Most At Risk As Searches Surge

• Manchester, London and Birmingham, are revealed as cities in the UK most at risk of burn-out, as summer fatigue reaches new highs. 

• Google searches for “burnout” hit a record high in August 2025, increasing by 28% in just the last 5 days, marking the peak of a national crisis in workplace fatigue and mental exhaustion.  

• Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, Martin Seeley, explains why sleep is the body’s first line of defence against chronic burnout, and taking a ‘duvet day’ can be essential 

While summer is traditionally seen as a time to recharge, new research reveals that for many in the UK, the warmer months are anything but stress-free with colleagues on holiday, busy work projects and long nights, prompting searches for “burnout” to reach an all-time high in August. 

With this in mind, MattressNextDay analysed major UK cities looking into factors such as sleep deprivation and work stress in the city, to burnout-related search volumes and weekly working hours to determine which cities’ residents are most at risk.  

Why does burnout peak in summer? 

 Burnout typically stems from long-term exposure to stressors, including demanding work environments and overstimulation paired with a lack of sufficient recovery. Many people with burnout feel exhausted but often struggle to sleep due to elevated anxiety and stress hormones like cortisol and therefore postpone their recovery. 

Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, said, “Summer is a common time for people to experience burnout, particularly as colleagues head on summer holidays, increasing our workloads, while longer days, warmer weather and an increase in social activities often disrupt our routine, particularly sleep routines.” 

UK cities most at risk of burnout: 

Rank	City	Population	Avg Weekly Working Hours	Unemployment Rate (%)	Avg Travel Time per 10km (Mins)	Green Space (%)	Burnout Searches per 100k	Sleep Trouble Searches per 100k	Work Stress Searches per 100k	Total Score (Max 100)
1	Manchester	470,411	36.2	6.4	24.8	34.71	1,318	6,622	640	69.92
2	London	8,776,535	36.8	6	33.3	22.29	628	2,370	276	57.61
3	Birmingham	1,121,408	37	10.6	20.8	24.11	602	3,245	228	56.72
4	Nottingham	299,797	36.9	6.2	23.1	42.86	937	4,687	377	52.23
5	Bristol	425,232	36.5	3.7	22.8	22.45	842	2,947	259	46.83
6	Newcastle upon Tyne	286,468	37	4.2	15.4	32.12	943	4,496	293	45.88
7	Kingston upon Hull	270,806	37	6	22.3	18.71	295	1,835	111	42.2
8	Coventry	344,322	37	5.8	21.3	28.75	424	2,268	189	40.7
9	Wolverhampton	234,015	37	7.4	–	24.11	415	2,098	150	39.62
10	Luton	233,498	37	7.5	–	17	308	1,392	116	39.3

Manchester is most at risk of burnout 

According to the data, Manchester is the most burnout-prone city in the UK, scoring 69.92/100 overall.  The cities’ residents search most on Google for advice around sleep-related troubles, with 6,622 searches per 100,000 people, and they search most for “burnout” (1,318). It also ranks highest out of all cities for work stress queries (640 per 100,000). Sleep troubles and work stress seem to be universal stressors for Manchester’s residents that are contributing towards an increased likelihood of burnout, as well as having the second longest travel time per 10km aside from London, at 24.8 minutes, contributing towards a lack of rest for residents.  

London ranks second for summer burnout risk with a total score of 57.61, significantly lower than Manchester’s score. The city has the fourth highest number of searches for work-related stresses on Google, at 276 per 100,000 people, and the fifth highest number of burnout-related searches (628). Travel time in the city is notably longer than any other UK city, with 10km on average taking 33.3 minutes, eating into people’s free time and potentially causing stress around punctuality. On top of this, the city has the third lowest percentage of green space (22.29%), which makes it more difficult for residents to get outside for exercise, a known way to improve burnout symptoms. 

Birmingham comes in third with one of the highest average weekly working hours (37) and the fourth highest number of searches for sleep-related troubles (3,245 per 100,000), showing residents are finding it difficult to prioritise rest and recovery, one of the biggest factors leading to burnout. While work and sleep troubles may be impacting residents, Birmingham has the highest unemployment rate at 10.6%, making it clear that people are battling stressors from all aspects. 

Sleep is the first line of defence against burnout  

According to Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay:  

“There is a clear link between poor sleep and burnout, putting in the effort to improve your sleep hygiene will go a long way towards curbing the worst of your burnout symptoms. Cities, by their very nature, are busy, hectic, and noisy places to live, making it difficult to maintain good sleep hygiene. From installing blackout blinds and making use of earplugs, to investing in breathable bedding and a mattress with temperature regulation features to keep you cool at night, there are plenty of ways to make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary that will give you the rest you need. Exercise has long been shown to help combat stress and improve our sleep. A daily walk or regular exercise activity will aid burnout recovery. Not carving out time for hobbies and activities and neglecting time with friends and family can worse the effects of burnout, so put time aside to do these things if you’re feeling the effects.” 

To view the full global ranking, please visit the study: https://www.mattressnextday.co.uk/snooze-news/post/revealed-the-us-states-that-battle-the-most-with-burnout 

For more advice and insights into how to improve your sleep hygiene, visit the sleep hub and guide pages where you can learn about the benefits of sleep for your skin to the benefits of using a silk pillowcase.