10 Signs You Are Burning Out - Hope 103.2

10 Signs You Are Burning Out

Often it's hard to notice our own levels of burnout, as we simply get ‘used to’ feeling the way we do. Here are 10 signs to look out for.

By Valerie LingTuesday 11 Apr 2023LifestyleReading Time: 2 minutes

Did you know that during the past few years, there has been a 60 per cent increase of people in Australia searching the term “burnout”?

This statistic is heartbreaking.

Sadly, it is not surprising given the continued pressure of uncertain times and changes, due to the COVID pandemic and other factors.

Often, it is hard for us to notice our own levels of burnout.

We are not sure if our exhaustion is normal, or if it is something to be concerned about.

Here are 10 signs to look out for:

  1. EXHAUSTION: Probably the clearest hallmark feature of burnout. You feel emotionally and physically wiped out on a regular basis. It is getting harder and harder to recharge your energy supplies.
  2. BRAIN FOG: It feels like you can’t pinpoint exactly how to get your brain to remember things you used to be able to. It seems like it takes so much longer to make decisions that used to be simple enough.
  3. COMPROMISED IMMUNITY: You seem to be getting sick more often, and recovery times take longer. You are not quite able to get that bounce back.
  4. IMPACTED CONFIDENCE: It does not feel like you are on target. You have self doubt and question whether you have lost your ability to perform.
  5. WITHDRAWAL: You don’t have the desire, motivation or energy to be around people.
  6. FEELINGS OF FAILURE: It’s so hard to be present for your loved ones and to be on point with your responsibilities. You feel like you are failing or disappointing the people around you.
  7. LOW SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT: You might be late for appointments, procrastinating simple tasks, making more mistakes than usual.
  8. ZONING OUT: You just feel like you are physically here, but your mind is not online.
  9. EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER: You might feel anxious, sad, angry, guilty – because you cannot seem to get things back to what they were before.
  10. TRAPPED: You wish you could escape or change things somehow, but you don’t know how to do it. You feel trapped in a neverending cycle of doing.

If this sounds like you or a loved one, it’s time to STOP and take stock of what you need to recharge, revitalise and refuel.

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You might like to read this blog for some ideas on how to begin to beat burnout.


Article supplied with thanks to Valerie Ling.

About the Author: Valerie Ling is a clinical psychologist and consultant with The Centre for Effective Living (a psychology and mental health practice) and The Centre for Effective Serving (a workplace wellbeing consultancy).

Feature image: Photo by Ephraim Mayrena on Unsplash