8 Signs You’re Feeling Burned Out
Are you feeling burned out? Is your to-do list zapping the energy out of you? Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion from having too much on your plate or when you’re putting your energy into work which doesn’t fulfil you. Every day can feel like a chore, making it difficult to do even the simplest things.
Many of us feel burned out by our jobs and the high expectations which they place upon us, with most jobs now expecting their employees to always be available outside of office hours. Alongside work, we also have extremely high expectations for ourselves. As the Millennial generation, we want to find meaning in our work and make an impact on the world.
We don’t want to do meaningless and mediocre work because we believe we have so much more to offer. This belief can sometimes leave us feeling burned out, as we can become overwhelmed and stressed by our thoughts and current situation.
Feeling burned out really can have a negative effect on your overall well-being, as it can spill over into every area of your life including your home, work, relationships and your health, both mental and physical. Today I’m sharing 8 signs you’re burned out and how you can deal with it, if we can spot the signs of burnout and take positive action then we can deal with things before they get any worse.
1. You’re not taking care of your basic needs
How much sleep do you get each night? Are you eating a balanced and healthy diet? Do you drink enough water? When was the last time you exercised? If you’re not taking care of your basic human needs then this will have a huge impact on your health and energy levels, leaving you feeling burned out and exhausted. Check-in with yourself every so often to make sure your basic needs are met, this is a simple solution to a big problem.
2. You’re snoozing your alarm too much
There’s nothing wrong with a cheeky snooze and getting an extra 5 minutes in bed, but if you find yourself snoozing your alarm every morning for 40 minutes then this is a sign that you’re burned out and have lost motivation to get up in the morning. There is something out of alignment in your life right now, which is why you’re struggling with motivation and why you’re snoozing your alarm so much.
Spend some time thinking about what you want from life and your vision for the future. Where do you want to be, what do you want to be doing, and what kind of person do you want to be?
3. Your to-do list is overwhelming
I love a to-do list and I will always find a reason to write one, whether it’s a shopping list, a blog to-do list or a chore list. Yet, if your to-do list is making you feel overwhelmed then this is a sign that you’re taking on too much and burning yourself out.
If you’re adding too much to your to-do list and then stressing about trying to get everything done, then you need to re-think your list. How much can you actually get done in a day without becoming stressed and overwhelmed? A good place to start is by adding your to-do list to your calendar, this way you can visually see how much of your time will be spent working on each task and whether or not this time frame is realistic.
Don’t forget to schedule in time for your basic needs and downtime. Self-care is crucial for your well-being and for preventing burnout. Schedule your tasks but also schedule in time to relax, whether that be reading, having a bath or chilling in front of Netflix.
4. Your life doesn’t motivate you
It’s okay if you’re not overly excited about Monday morning, but if it’s because you’re putting your mental energy into life and routine which doesn’t fulfil and motivate you, then this can cause you to burn out. Spend some time thinking about your vision for the future and where you want to be in a year or two. If you’re struggling to find something which excites you then you simply need to try new things and see which ones feed your soul!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Start a blog
- Start a business
- Set a health/fitness goal
- Cooking
- Travel
- Gardening
- Writing
- Photography
- Learn a language
- Drawing
- Painting
- Volunteer
- DIY (arts/crafts)
- Go to local events
- Dance
- Yoga
- Travel
- Become a mentor
5. You’re not having a break
No one holds you to such high standards as you do but it is okay to give yourself a break. We’re all guilty of setting ourselves ridiculously high standards but when you don’t have time for self-care is when you need it the most. Give yourself permission to rest and allow yourself to recharge, self-care can be a huge help to overcome feelings of burnout.
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6. You’re getting overly irritated by other people
People can be annoying but if you find yourself getting overly irritated by others, whether that’s by strangers, colleagues, friends or family then this is a sign of being burned out.
An easy way to resolve this is to give yourself a break from others and enjoy some alone time. Take your lunch break out of the office and away from your colleagues, go for a run or take yourself for a walk in the evening to clear your mind and enjoy your own company. Another way to grab some me time is by waking up early and enjoying a morning to yourself before the rest of the house wakes up and before you need to start your day.
7. You’re living on autopilot
Most of us are living on autopilot as we do the same things day in and day out, if we’re not careful the monotony of life will bring us down. It’s important to add things into your routine that you can look forward to, whether that be through music, cooking, blogging, speaking with friends, exercising or shopping.
8. Your thoughts are negative
Sometimes our own negative thoughts about ourselves and situations leave us feeling burned out, this tends to happen when we are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or exhausted.
When you’re feeling weighed down by your own negative thoughts, make sure you take some time for yourself. Journal out your thoughts, practice self-care, say positive affirmations, and set yourself goals, these are just a few ways to bring yourself out of a negative mindset.
What are some of your tips to deal with feeling burned out?
The Comments
Sabrina Bullock
This is such a wonderful post. I’m so glad you shared and I hope it’ll help others to do something about their burnout before it gets too bad. I didn’t catch mine early enough and after 25 years of nursing, I’m leaving the profession. I’ve been taking care of family and friends since I was a child too. I need a break to take care of me and recover from my burnout. Before I quit my job, I was doing all the things on your list of signs of burnout, except for hitting the snooze button. I’m a blogger too and one of my blogs is about mental health, specifically dealing with anxiety, depression, and burnout. If you ever want to do a guest post, I’d be glad to have you do one. Thank you!