Society pushes us to “hustle” to work hard to get what we want. We tend to prioritize working overtime and getting as much done as possible, always pushing the needle forward, while putting ourselves last.

I remember growing up I saw both my parents working very hard, my mother was a home attendant and she worked 12-hour shifts Monday through Friday to keep food on the table.

My dad worked maintenance in a corporate building, I saw him work very hard until he was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer.

It was only natural for my parents to instill the same in me, I started working as early as 14 years old which my family praised, they had a hard-working daughter.  They praised me for not being “lazy” like the people who didn’t work as hard as we did.

So, from the very beginning, my mindset was that I had to work hard and hustle to make it, which meant working overtime, working on weekends, and getting underpaid for all my efforts.

It worked for a while until it stopped working, I started to see the effects of just working nonstop take a toll on my mental wellbeing. I started to feel dissatisfied with my life, I started to question the purpose of my life.

It wasn’t until 7 years ago that I made the change in how I viewed work that my life changed. I no longer put work as a priority, and I started to feel better about myself.

You see many times we might fear that if we don’t hustle all the time, we won’t get what we want out of life, but this is further from the truth. We are worth more than our 9 to 5, we all have a grander purpose here than just grinding.

In this blog, I will discuss 5 telltale signs that you are on the verge of burnout or are already burned out.

Physical Ailments

Burnout can manifest physically, affecting your body in various ways. We are not robots, even cavemen took time to rest when they weren’t hunting.

Our bodies are our first messengers when something is off, you start to feel minor aches and pain, this is the body’s signal that it needs rest.

Extreme fatigue is another physical ailment, if you are always feeling tired you are on the verge of burnout. We get addicted to caffeine to counteract fatigue but that does not work for long.

You might also start to get sick frequently and develop different types of ailments. I’ve worked in the benefits department of Human Resources. You won’t believe how many employees went out on leave due to some physical ailment due to stress, heart attack, weakened immune system, and digestive issues.

Brain Fog

Brain fog occurs when the brain is overworked or under strain. The most common symptoms are feeling dazed and confused, headaches, thinking more slowly than usual, an inability to remember things or even tasks just completed, mental fatigue, and mood swings.

So, if you are working overtime, and pushing through mental exhaustion it can cause brain fog, which affects your ability to think clearly.

Detachment

Burnout often leads to feelings of isolation and detachment from others. Think about it, when you are not feeling your the last thing you want to do is socialize with others.

If you find yourself wanting to isolate yourself from others and feelings of indifference in hanging with friends or family, there is the cue that burnout is taking a toll on your mental health.

Depression

One of the biggest identifiers for me when it came to my burnout was depression. I felt like I was in a hopeless place. Granted depression is a whole life thing, but my job was the main connecter.

My job was very stressful and demanding, there always seemed to be fires every day and  I was expected to fix it. This started to bleed over to every other part of my life, from my relationship and my personal time.

If you have been feeling exhausted, defeated, and cynical it might be due to depression from burnout.

Neglecting your own needs

When your focus is always on your job or even working on your business you can neglect your self-care routine. You might not take time to cater to the needs of your mental wellbeing.

You might even neglect your physical appearance as well. In the past, I would just wake up put whatever on, and look a mess, with eye boogers in my eye. I wasn’t even paying attention to what my needs were.

So if you are neglecting your own needs, that is a sign you might be burned out.

Conclusion:

Recognizing burnout is the first step toward addressing and overcoming it. By paying attention to physical symptoms, emotional well-being, work performance, social behavior, and changes in interests, you can gain valuable insights into your mental state.

Seeking support from friends, family, or professionals is essential when navigating the challenges of burnout. Prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and take proactive steps to restore balance to your life.