What Are the Warning Signs of Burnout?

By Jackie Chavez, M.A.

Burnout is…

…our mind/body's normal reaction to prolonged periods of stress and exhaustion. It can show up in a number of different ways.

Here are some signs to look out for:

Physical Signs

• Feeling tired or drained most days

• Experiencing frequent headaches, muscle pains, or illnesses

• Experiencing changes in appetite

• Experiencing changes in sleep patterns

Emotional Signs

• Feeling a sense of failure and self-doubt

• Feeling detached and alone in the world

• Feeling a loss of motivation

• Increased cynicism and negative outlook

• Decreased sense of accomplishment and satisfaction

Behavioral signs

• Withdrawing from responsibilities

• Isolating ourselves from others

• Procrastinating, or taking longer to get things done

• Using food, alcohol, or drugs to cope

• Taking our frustrations out on others

• Skipping work, coming in late, or leaving early.

Are you starting to realize you might be feeling burned out? The good news is that the first step of breaking the cycle of burnout is recognizing it.

Take some time to reflect on the warning signs of burnout listed above. Make it personal and think of specific examples of the ways you're feeling burnout (e.g., calling off on Mondays more often.)

Know that you are worthy and you have the resilience to make positive changes.

Stay tuned! In our next post, we'll address ways to break the cycle of burnout.