We all get overwhelmed by work stress from time to time. After all, a lot of things may cause stress in the workplace: difficult coworkers, tight deadlines, or challenging projects.
However, how do you tell when your stress has extended past a normal range—possibly into burnout?
Many people experience workplace burnout, though it is not as commonly talked about or even acknowledged. Burnout can have detrimental effects on your health, both physically and mentally. Thus, it is important to recognize the signs of burnout to ensure you stay safe, focused, and content in your workplace.
Consider some of them.
You Have Lost Interest in Your Work
Not all work is going to be interesting. Some work is, unfortunately, quite mundane and tedious.
However, does it seem like you have lost all interest in work, even the work you used to enjoy? If so, this apathy may be a sign of burnout. It is difficult to work hard every day when you do not feel passion or excitement about your work—and burnout commonly causes this feeling of indifference.
You Dread Waking Up Each Morning
It is not easy to get out of bed each day when you are going to a place that you know will bring you immense stress. As a result, you may dread the start of each new day. You may rather pull the covers over your head and hide than drag yourself out of bed.
If you have come to dread the sound of your alarm clock each morning, it could be another sign of burnout. One that is usually amplified by a general feeling of mental fatigue.
You Constantly Wonder If You Made the Right Choices
Do you ever question whether you choose the right career path? Or do you keep dwelling each day on regrets over not following another path? While it is understandable to consider the "what-ifs" from time to time, having regrets about your choices should not be a recurring theme.
If you are satisfied with your life and career, you go to work content with yourself, your job, and your life choices. But if you are suffering from burnout, you may go to work filled with sadness and regret.
You Experience Physical Symptoms
Many people commonly assume that burnout only affects people mentally. However, burnout can have negative effects on your physical self, too.
You may have trouble sleeping and staying asleep. In the morning, you may find it difficult to wake up and get going because you are physically exhausted. You may also experience changes in your appetite, thus causing weight loss or gain. And you may have more aches and pains in general.
Do not write this off. These pains could very well be a manifestation of your extreme stress and you nearing burnout.
How Can You Find an Ideal Work/Life Balance?
The ultimate goal is to find a solid balance between work and personal life. When we lose our sense of this balance, it is all too easy for work stress to affect every aspect of our lives. And, when this happens, burnout tends to follow.
If you feel that you are experiencing burnout, please be assured that you are not alone. It is not always easy to find the ideal work/life balance. Fortunately, you do not have to continue living in a constant state of stress. There are steps you can take to reignite your passion for both your work and your life in general.
For example, to move past your burnout funk, you may want to consider career counseling. Career counseling is ideal if you feel weighed down by work stress or if you have reached the point of burnout and do not know what to do next. It can help you understand and cope with these stressors and create a plan for the future.
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You deserve to feel happy and satisfied with your career and the choices you have made. You do not deserve to feel dread, extreme stress, or apathy towards your career.
If you want to move past your burnout and remember what it is like to be happy with your work, contact us to find out more about career counseling and how we can help you leave the stress behind.