Signs of burnout: How to recognize and evaluate what to keep doing and what to let go of.
Signs of burnout: How to recognize and evaluate what to keep doing and what to let go of.
From personal experience, I know that burnout is real. It is not to be dismissed.
Here are some signs:
- Lack of enthusiasm and vitality
- Difficulty getting up in the morning and falling asleep at night.
- Speaking in a monotone.
- Feeling bored and listless.
- Feeling alienated from your family, co-workers, and friends
- Feeling hungry but lack an appetite.
- Becoming depressed (the line between burnout and depression is very thin).
If you notice some of these symptoms, here’s a suggested strategy to start a recovery path:
- Be honest with yourself. Most people cross the line into burnout at some point in their life.
- Have a heart-to-heart conversation with people who depend on you. Ask them what absolutely needs to stay on your plate and what you can let go of.
- Get clear and ask for the support you need.
- Take an Energy Inventory. Assess what activities, in the last week, gave you energy and which depleted you. Ask yourself if your tiredness is “bad” tired or “good” tired. Remember: Burnout is not about hard work; it’s about heartache.
- Delegate everything possible that you hate doing to someone who would love doing it.
- Accept that guilt is inevitable for conscientious, accountable people. Just don’t put guilt in the driver’s seat. Walk through with grace.
