How to Recognize the Physical Signs of Burnout
On average, we’re working more hours each week, we’ve got children or elderly parents to look after, and we’re stressed about the rising costs of living. And we’re doing all of this while trying to also maintain a social life and have some downtime each day.
It’s no surprise that with the ever-increasing stresses of modern day life, burnout is on the rise.
Whether it’s caused by professional or personal demands, burnout can seriously affect our physical and mental well-being.
The signs of burnout can be physical, mental, and emotional. It causes exhaustion in every aspect of your health. Over time, if burnout isn’t dealt with properly, it can start to cause problems at work or at home.
Spotting the earlier signs of physical burnout means that you can take action and do something about your situation to prevent it from getting worse. Here are some of the common physical signs of burnout:
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Ongoing headaches
- Poor sleep
- Low mood
- Feeling frustrated and irritable
- Reduced creativity
- Inability to concentrate or focus properly at work
- Increased absenteeism from work
- Reduced performance and productivity at work
- Negative outlook on life or negative approach to work
- Cynicism
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Detachment
- Anxiety
- Digestive issues
- High blood pressure
- Increased muscle tension and aches
- Increased susceptibility to infections, such as the flu
It’s likely that you will experience more than one of the above signs when you are approaching burnout and it’s important to do something about them to prevent your burnout from getting even worse.
If your burnout is mainly due to feeling overwhelmed at work, it is important to speak with your manager to plan a strategy together that allows for adjustments in work responsibilities, hours or level of support.
For burnout related to your personal life, you might need to set more boundaries and reduce your out-of-work responsibilities. Don't be afraid to reach out to your family members for help if you have a lot on your plate. It's important to set aside some time for yourself every day to rest and recharge.