If you’re going through burnout, you may be experiencing some subtle changes in your life that indicate it’s time to take action. I know that when I’m burned out and not getting enough sleep, eating right, or exercising regularly—it’s evident when my energy lags. But sometimes those little signs can be hard to spot if you’ve been working hard for a while and don’t get much of a break. It can be difficult to tell when exhaustion is just part of being human and when it’s actually time for some restorative self-care.
You sleep a lot more
If you’re sleeping a lot more than usual, it could be a symptom of burnout. Sleep deprivation is one of the most common signs of burnout, and it’s something that can happen when someone is overly stressed or overworked.
Sleep is important for mental health in particular because without sufficient sleep, people may not be able to think clearly enough to make good decisions or solve problems. In addition to this, lack of sleep makes it harder for people to control their emotions—this includes both negative emotions (such as anger) and positive ones (such as joy).
Your eating habits have changed
One of the most common forms of burnout is eating more or less than usual. You may be eating more junk food, or you might be avoiding it altogether. You could be eating more healthy food or less, at the same time each day or at different times throughout the day—or maybe not at all! If you find yourself eating less or more often than normal, that’s a sign that something is off-kilter in your life (and likely work). Try to figure out what’s causing this shift in appetite so that it can be addressed and resolved quickly; if left unchecked for too long, it can lead to serious problems like malnutrition and obesity down the road.
You’re tired all the time
If you’re tired all the time, it’s time to take action. We all have busy lives, but if you’re too tired to get out of bed in the morning or to stay awake during your commute home from work, then it’s a sign that something serious is going on.
If this describes your situation and you feel stuck in a fog all the time, speak with a professional about what’s going on so that they can help determine whether you’re suffering from burnout or other health issues that require medical attention.
You’re always sick
Have you noticed that you’re sick more often than usual? It could be stress related. Research shows that stress can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to viruses, infections and allergies.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, it’s time to take a step back and consider what’s going on in your life. Take some time to evaluate if there are any changes at home or work that have caused an increase in stress levels. Are there new commitments taking up all of your time? Has something changed with the people around you?
Burnout is usually the result of too much pressure placed on us by others—whether they’re directly or indirectly responsible for our unease doesn’t matter as much as our ability to recognize when we’ve reached our limit so we can take action before things get worse!
Everything annoys you
When you’re not burnt out, it’s easy to shrug off minor irritations. You may even laugh at the absurdity of some situations and people. But when you’re burnt out, everything seems more annoying than usual. You find yourself getting frustrated by small things that normally wouldn’t bother you.
Being irritable isn’t always a sign of burnout—it happens to everyone from time to time—but if this is something that’s happening often and for no apparent reason, then it could be a sign that something is wrong.
If your job doesn’t require emotional intelligence or empathy, then this can cause problems with those around you: If coworkers are constantly seeing their bosses snapping at them because they didn’t do something right on the first try (or even just because they asked a question), they may resent being around their boss as much resents being around them!
You feel hopeless and helpless
If you feel hopeless and helpless, it’s a sign that you’re not in control of your life. You might be feeling depressed or exhausted. You may think that the future is bleak and there are no options for change, but this isn’t true! Make some small changes that help you feel better about yourself and your life instead of giving up entirely on making things better.
You’ve lost interest in doing things that used to make you happy
If you’re burnt out, you may find yourself feeling unmotivated to do the things that once made you happy. You might stop enjoying activities that were once pleasurable, including things like reading a book or going for a run. It’s also common to feel uninterested in talking to friends and family members or being around them in general. You may not have much energy for socializing if it means having to put effort into getting yourself out of bed first thing in the morning and putting on makeup—two very small things that can be enough motivation for someone else!
You’ve had crying spells for no apparent reason
If you’ve had crying spells for no apparent reason, those are one of the subtle signs of burnout. Crying is sometimes a sign that your body needs to release emotional tension or stress. You may feel overwhelmed by all the work that’s piled up and need to take a break from it. Or maybe someone at work has been treating you unfairly and it feels like they’re trying to make your life miserable; in this case, crying could be a way for you to let go of that negative energy so that you can move on with your day (and hopefully find another job).
It’s also possible that this crying spell represents something else entirely—a sign from your body that says, “Hey! I don’t like what’s going on here!” In which case, it might be time for some self-care: talk about what’s bothering you with friends or family members; see if there’s an easy fix at work (like switching projects); or just take some time off until the situation becomes more manageable again.”
If you notice these signs in yourself, it’s time to take some action.
- Here are some things that can help: Take a break from work. One of the best ways to regain your energy and focus is to step away from the office. Make sure you’re still checking email and voicemail throughout the day and responding as needed, but set aside at least one full day per week where you completely unplug—even if that means just walking over to a local coffee house or cafe instead of going into the office (or working remotely).
- Ask for help from your manager. It’s important for managers to know about their team members’ needs so they can support them in achieving success on their projects and getting recognized for their contributions—but even more importantly, managers have an obligation not only to themselves but also those who work under them that prevents burnout from being allowed at any level within their business organization: both by making sure employees are taken care of mentally first before anything else happens; and secondly by creating environments where people feel comfortable coming forward with personal challenges affecting their performance so those issues can be addressed immediately rather than waiting until after there has been irreparable damage done before doing anything about it.”
Conclusion
Burnout is a serious and dangerous condition. If you notice any of the symptoms above, make sure you get help immediately. It’s better to take action than risk letting it go too far and having your whole life ruined by this terrible disease.
