How to spot the signs of burnout at work

Money Bite-Size Read:

• Burnout is increasingly becoming a workplace phenomenon.
• It’s when your body, mind and emotions feel completely exhausted.
• Here’s how to spot the signs of burnout at work so that you can take action to protect your health and career.

The Money Bites Take:

The feeling of burnout is toxic to your career, so it’s essential to spot the signs and address burnout early on..

 

Have you ever felt completely burnout?

It’s when your body, mind and emotions feel exhausted, putting you in a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion. Burnout is classification as an occupational phenomenon by the World Health Organisation. It’s also the end result or what can happen when you’re under sustained workplace stress without a break.

That’s why it’s so vital to spot the signs of burnout early and address the issue.

Burnout is a threat to being able to earn money to fund your dreams, so it’s important to take action early to protect your health and career. Having an emergency fund to draw on helps put out short-term issues. For long-term financial wellbeing, though, you are your number one asset when it comes to earning money now and into the future.

But what does burnout look like?

There are several signs of burnout in progress. Everyone is different, and you may have experienced one or all of these signs. Being aware of and alert to them can assist in spotting burnout in yourself, your colleagues and those you love. To help you get started, we’ve framed these signs of burnout at work as questions you can ask yourself and others.

 

 

 

Here’s how to spot the signs of burnout at work:

 

 

 

1. Do you feel exhausted?

Exhaustion is the feeling of having no energy. You may feel tired and drained of energy, which stops you from doing typical activities. Being run-down also means you can pick up infections more regularly, such as colds or infections.

 

 

 

2. Are you struggling to sleep?

Sleep is critical to be able to function. If you have trouble getting enough sleep, even though you’re exhausted, this can be a sign of burnout at work that you’re taking home. Not sleeping can also make it more difficult to concentrate and focus during the day, affecting your productivity.

 

 

 

3. Have you lost motivation?

One of the biggest signs of burnout is a sudden lack of motivation. It can be difficult to get up in the morning, work on new projects and feel excited about work each day. Left unresolved, this can develop into full-blown cynicism, another sign of burnout.

 

 

 

4. Have you stopped your self-care routine?

We should consider all budgeting for self-care to prioritise mental health and protect our earning potential. Unfortunately, when burnout hits, many people throw their self-care routine out the window. This can include binging on unhealthy food or not making time for exercise you enjoy.

 

 

 

5. Are you less productive at work?

One of the biggest signs of burnout is when your work productivity nosedives. No matter how many hours you put in, you aren’t achieving the same results. This can lead to more work piling up, which adds to your overall stress levels.

 

 

 

6. Have you become the office cynic?

If you’re becoming more cynical at work, you might be sinking into burnout. You might feel like your work isn’t valued and question the purpose of what you do. These negative feelings can start to spill into other areas of your life, so take the time to reflect if you’re becoming more cynical at work.

 

 

 

7. Is your workload consistently intense?

Stress and anxiety are to be expected at times, particularly when you’ve got a deadline. However, being in a constant state of stress due to a high workload can develop into burnout. Sustained feelings of anxiety can also make you less productive and unable to meet your high workload.

 

 

 

8. Do you feel detached from what’s happening?

When you’re feeling burnout, you can feel detached from what’s happening to you. You may feel distant from your colleagues and not connect as passionately to the work you used to love. You may also start isolating yourself, physically and socially from the office.

 

 

 

9. Are you more emotional at work?

Emotions at work are not a bad thing. But if your emotional responses are changing and you don’t feel good when doing your job, this can be a sign of burnout. Many of us become more irritable and more easily annoyed by issues and people at work when we’re under sustained stress.

 

 

 

10. Can you not stop thinking about work?

If you think about work even when you’re not there, you might be suffering from burnout. This is particularly true if you’re dreading going back to work on Monday, and this starts to affect your weekends too.

Burnout threatens your number one earning asset: you.

By being alert to the signs of burnout, you can quickly identify it and take action to protect your health and career. You can also look after your loved ones by spotting burnout in others and supporting them to put themselves first.