Burnout: The slow burn leading to a crash

Are you a person who takes your work home? I have clients who admit to waking up at 3 am to finish off work tasks and email.

If this is you, you may think this strategy leads to greater productivity. But it can lead to burnout.

Many people ignore physical signs of fatigue. They avoid self-care and push through until they crash.

This is what we call “burnout.”

It is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress.

𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙩:
Feeling drained
Overwhelmed
Agitated
Hopeless, and
Detached from personal and professional life

You may also experience 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙨 such as:
Fatigue,
Headaches,
Physical pain (ie: shoulders, back)
Insomnia.

People who are at risk of burnout often don’t realise it until they have reached a point of crash. This is because burnout develops gradually, and the symptoms can be subtle at first.

As the individual continues to experience stress, they may notice that they are feeling more exhausted, irritable, and less productive.

You may also begin to experience feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. This can lead to a point where you are unable to perform your duties and may have to take time off work. This point is known as a burnout crash.

It’s important to recognise the signs of burnout and take steps to address it before it reaches the point of a crash.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚:
Managing stress,
Setting boundaries (eg: leaving work at work)
Practising self-care, and
Seeking support from friends, family, or a professional.