Recognizing the Signs of Burnout
It is important to note that burnout is not the same as stress. We all go through periods of time that are more stressful than others. The holiday season can be difficult; maybe you’ve got a big project or event you are planning that is coming up soon, or maybe you have a ‘busy season’ at work, which requires more work and longer hours. These times can all be stressful, and can certainly lead to you feeling like you need to take a break to recover afterward. This, however, is not the same as burnout.
It can be tough to tell the difference between stress and burnout. It can also be difficult to realize you are burning out before you are really at rock bottom. Knowing the signs of burnout is essential for early intervention so that you don’t get that far with it. The most acute warning signs that you are burning (or already burnt) out are as follows:
- You are increasingly irritable, even small inconveniences set you off
- You no longer want to do activities that you previously enjoyed,
- Even small tasks feel impossibly overwhelming
- You no longer want to take on additional responsibilities