burnout: what it looks like

1. Brain fog 

Because our brains are worrying about so much, it can impact our ability to think clearly. This can lead to you struggling to understand instructions from your manager and complete basic tasks. 

2. Joint pain 

Our brains interpret physical and emotional pain in the same place – the amygdala. This means that prolonged emotional pain can also lead to physical pain, ranging from sharp, shooting pains to constant aching and pulsing pains.

3. Tiredness 

Feeling fatigued because your energy levels are low can result in you wanting to sleep longer because you’re trying to regain the energy you’ve lost from working so hard. What’s more, operating with less energy can also be more draining in itself.

4. Poor motivation 

When you’re burnt out, it can be a challenge to do the things you usually don’t mind doing. You may find you’re struggling to get of bed in the morning, finding cooking a chore and avoiding team meetings and work outings.   

5. Irritability  

Low energy levels and the lack of sleep brought on by burnout can also result in people generally having less patience and getting aggravated by things that wouldn’t usually irritate them

6. Detached outlook 

Being pushed to the brink can lead to feeling detached from everything around you. It may be that things you used to enjoy no longer appeal to you, or, in more serious cases, you stop caring about yourself (e.g. personal hygiene) and those around you. 

7. Digestive issues 

Our digestive system can be heavily affected by our body’s fight or flight response. Issues, such as diarrhoea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), nausea and indigestion are some of the ways stress can impact our digestive system.

8. Anxiety  

A constant feeling of dread, and there being no apparent reason for that dread, can be a sign of burnout or Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The disorder can be aggravated or caused by long-term stress and burnout.  

9. Constant overdrive  

You may find yourself worrying about work, even when you’re taking part in fun activities, such as family days out. When you can’t switch off, it’s not uncommon for you to constantly be worrying about what could happen, even when it might not… 

10. Feeling overwhelmed  

When you hit a certain point, you may find that you feel overwhelmed emotionally, even if there isn’t much going on. You may have a lighter workload than usual, but are struggling to get through it because you have less energy and motivation than usual.