10 Signs You’re Headed Toward Burnout
You reach for your smartphone alarm in the morning, switch it off, lie back down, and release a lengthy sigh. Not work again. Not another exhausting day.
If it’s of any consolation, you’re not the only person who feels this way. Research shows that 76% of workers experience job-related burnout at times, and 28% report feeling burned out either frequently or all of the time.
The question is, what exactly are the signs of burnout? Fortunately, we’ve compiled a mental health guide highlighting 10 key burnout symptoms and what to do about them.
Let’s dig in!
1. Signs of Burnout Include Health Issues Stemming from Physical Stress
Some of the top burnout signs include health problems that stress can cause. These include decreased energy levels and frequent headaches. They also include back pain and gastrointestinal problems.
2. Decreased Enjoyment
In addition to suffering physical problems as a result of burnout and related mental health problems, like depression and anxiety, you may find yourself no longer enjoying your usual daily activities.
For example, perhaps you found your job to be enjoyable years ago. Now, though, you feel fearful or apathetic about the work you do. Likewise, you might have lost interest in the personal activities you used to enjoy doing.
In the same vein, you may have noticed that your attention span has decreased lately. Not being able to remain attentive when completing tasks might likewise imply that you are burning out.
3. Constant Cynicism
Another indicator of burnout is persistent cynicism and sarcasm. For example, you might feel frustrated, pessimistic, and isolated frequently. You may also struggle to trust your co-workers or boss.
If you have begun to doubt everything around you and have lost your confidence, you just might be in a burnout situation.
4. Subpar Job Performance
Burnout may also be a problem for you if your job performance is on the decline.
For instance, you might find yourself relying on your teammates to handle more of your tasks because you don’t have the energy or motivation to do them yourself. In addition, your latest performance evaluation may reveal that you have made an increased number of mistakes and thus have been required to make more corrections recently.
5. Constant Exhaustion
Perhaps you feel you can’t ever get adequate sleep. Whether you’re waking up or headed to bed, you feel spent both physically and emotionally. This is a major indicator that you may be burned out professionally and/or personally.
6. Regular Work-Related Thoughts
Do you find yourself constantly thinking about work? If so, this is another sign that you’re feeling burned out.
It’s not unusual to ponder work-related matters outside of the workplace. However, if your thoughts about work are filled with a feeling of dread, then you may be headed toward burnout. Likewise, burnout may be a problem for you if your work-related thoughts are beginning to hinder your daily activities.
7. Trouble Sleeping
It’s relatively common to struggle with insomnia from time to time. However, if you frequently struggle to stay asleep or even fall asleep, then this may signal burnout as well. This is especially true if your thoughts at bedtime are centered on your job.
8. Poor Lifestyle Choices
You might also have a problem with burnout if you lack the drive or energy to make lifestyle choices that are healthy.
For example, you may struggle with eating too little food or too much food. Or, perhaps you have developed the habit of choosing unhealthy foods. You might have even stopped your daily exercise routine.
Using and abusing alcohol is another major burnout symptom, as you might be drinking alcohol to escape your depressive or anxious feelings.
9. Missing Work Often
Do you find yourself missing work frequently? Perhaps you’re simply late for work multiple times a week. Or, maybe you find yourself seeking excuses to skip work whenever possible.
Unfortunately, chronically missing work or being tardy to your job might signal burnout. That’s because burnout may cause you to no longer be motivated to work, so arriving on time — or at all — becomes less of a priority in your life.
10. Feeling More Irritable
Your family members, friends, and co-workers may have recently told you that you are not as pleasant to be around these days. And your increased irritability — a common sign of burnout — might be to blame.
If you feel that your life is unmanageable, you might be inclined to take your emotions out on other people in your life. Your exhaustion and issues may have made you feel so overwhelmed that even small annoyances cause intense anger and testiness.
Address Your Burnout Symptoms with Confidence
At the Center of Balance Counseling, we realize that navigating life stresses can be a struggle emotionally, mentally, and physically. Fortunately, if you struggle with any of the above-listed signs of burnout, you can take steps to improve your situation.
Through our counseling services, we can help you to identify the patterns causing your struggles. Then, we’ll show you how to heal these patterns’ causes and embrace your potential.
For instance, you can reduce any known stressors you are experiencing at work, or you can even take a work-related leave, if needed, to improve your mental health. We can support you to make healthier lifestyle choices to combat your burnout symptoms.
Meditation, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques may furthermore help you to manage your stress levels when you’re feeling burned out.
Get in touch with us to learn more about how our counseling services can help you to overcome your burnout in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
