3 Common Signs of Burnout

We all have some idea of what burnout is or what we think it is. And while there is no official definition of burnout, here are 3 common signs of burnout - with some context that helps explain why you’re experiencing it in the first place.

1 —

Exhaustion

This is when you feel drained, both physically and emotionally. Perhaps you’re getting enough sleep and rest, but you still feel exhausted all the time.

You’ve heard the saying ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup,’ but you're still exhausted no matter how much extra rest you get.

This may make you feel like you’re ‘lazy’ because you suddenly need more rest even though you’re doing the same things you’ve always done.

And to top it all off, you now feel guilty about being exhausted.

2 —

Cynicism

relationships, or whatever you’re burned out from. The tasks you used to feel so passionate about now just make you annoyed, angry, or lethargic. 

It may feel like none of it matters anymore. This is especially strange for those of you who are used to being high achievers - you’ve worked so hard to be where you are, and suddenly you couldn’t care less about any of it. 

Burnout can also cause you to feel extra cynical in your relationships with colleagues or others around you. People you usually like and care about now get on every last nerve you have. It can feel like they’re out to get you, and you can’t trust them anymore. This isn’t because you suddenly and “irrationally” hate everyone - it’s because you’re burned out.

This cynicism can snowball, and you can end up feeling alone, lonely, isolated, betrayed, and disconnected.

3 —

Reduced productivity

You’re used to being über productive, and hardly a day goes by where you don’t complete your to-do list. Well, not anymore. 

Tasks you typically can complete in your sleep now cost you an inordinate amount of energy and brain power. 

And to make matters worse, it’s suddenly much more difficult to focus and concentrate on those tasks. 

You’re constantly overwhelmed, and to add insult to injury, you’re not even doing more than usual. So you procrastinate, which makes you feel anxious about everything you know you should be doing, but you aren’t.

It’s not you - it is a classic burnout symptom.

We know society loves to blame the individual and take zero collective responsibility. When discussing burnout, we almost always fail to mention any context. 

Sure, you may need to get better at setting boundaries. You may need to practice saying no to your boss. Perhaps you really should start putting your phone away instead of scrolling all night in bed. 

Those things aren’t untrue, and it’s straightforward advice to give and to understand.

But it does not paint the complete picture. 

Chicken or the egg?

Why are you scrolling all night? It’s rarely because you don’t want to sleep. It’s not because you don’t know the importance of sleep. But, of course, you do. 

It’s because when you close your eyes, your brain provides you with tomorrow’s to-do list. Just in case you needed something more to stress about. And it’s most unhelpful because there’s very little you can actually do about that list, from bed after a long day. 

Chances are you’re simply overworked and not through any fault of your own. That is the simple truth that your boss doesn’t want you to know because then it’s their problem too. But if we take off our capitalist glasses for one moment, we recognize the simple truth. 

Perhaps you can’t sleep because you live in a shitty neighborhood, as that’s all you can afford on your salary. Maybe you can’t sleep because you have so much anxiety about the work you need to do because you’ve procrastinated because, you guessed it, you’re suffering from burnout. 

Recovering in a messed-up system

Living and thriving in a system created by someone else for someone else and that is causing you harm is daunting. 

So in our recovery journey, we must remember that a lot of the problems arise from the systems in place. So while we encourage you to try and change these, you must accept that you still have to exist within these structures and focus on how to best do that in a way that honors your needs. 

Our advice is to be as analytical as possible when looking at your situation. 

Is your workload too big? Look at ways you can sit down with your boss and take some things off your plate, if there are ways to complete some tasks in a way that is less stressful for you, are there additional resources available to you, etc.

Are you a new mom who is overwhelmed by everything you have to do? If there are any specific tasks you’re struggling with more, look at ways you can do less of these. Discuss it with your partner or other support system, or look into government assistance programs that can help.

Remember that recovery from burnout is a process, and it takes time. But burnout won’t go away on its own, so it’s important that you start addressing it as soon as you have the capability.

Start by taking time off work if you need to and have the privilege to do so, engaging in activities that bring you joy, and seeking support from friends, family, or a therapist.