12 signs you’re more than just tired, you’re totally exhausted

Burnout isn’t just the result of working too late at the office or handling an overwhelming burden of responsibility.

It’s a subtle thief, robbing you of energy, optimism, and drive. It creeps in silently, masquerading as a difficult week, until it firmly establishes its dominance over your life.

Are you just tired, or are you the latest victim of burnout?

These are signs you’re more than just tired, you’re actually exhausted.

1) Chronic fatigue

If you feel more tired than usual, you could have chronic fatigue. It’s not just the usual tired feeling you feel after a long day; it’s a deep, pervasive tiredness that doesn’t go away even after rest.

Chronic fatigue can be accompanied by a variety of physical symptoms, such as headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, and a general feeling of heaviness or weakness. These symptoms further contribute to your overall tired feeling.

If you have chronic fatigue along with other symptoms of fatigue, it’s important to take steps to address and manage the underlying cause.

2) Reduced productivity

Have you ever noticed that the more you work, the less productive you are? For example, you may work 12-hour shifts, but how productive are you during them?

Can you do more if you really focus for 6-8 hours of work?

But apart from that, reduced productivity is also a symptom of burnout. You may find yourself easily distracted, have difficulty staying engaged with your work, and struggle to maintain your concentration for long periods of time.

For example, tasks that you used to complete quickly and accurately are now taking longer to complete, or you may be making more mistakes than usual.

Fatigue can also cause you to procrastinate or avoid tasks altogether. All-in-all, it could be better.

3) Neglected self-care

When I experienced my first burnout a decade ago, one thing I still vividly remember was how much I neglected, not just my appearance, but my nutrition, relaxation, and overall well-being because I had neither the energy nor the motivation to do anything. outside of work. .

Needless to say, things got a lot better after I quit my job.

When you constantly push yourself to work harder or longer hours, you naturally begin to neglect adequate sleep, rest, and free time.

Realizing that you’re neglecting self-care is an important step in overcoming burnout. After that, you need to cut it off at the root.

4) Increased disease

If you notice that you are more susceptible to illness than usual, it means that fatigue may have caused your immune system to weaken resulting in frequent illnesses, such as colds, flu or infections.

One reason is that prolonged stress results in the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, which can suppress certain aspects of immune function.

This can undermine the body’s natural defense mechanisms, making it more difficult to fend off pathogens and increasing the chances of getting sick.

5) Symptoms of chronic stress

While we’re on the topic of stress, burnout can cause you to experience chronic stress-related symptoms.

There are too many to list here, so here are the main ones:

• Headache,
• muscle tension,
• Digestive problems (such as stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation),
• changes in appetite,
• sleep disturbance,
• frequent infections,
• increased heart rate,
• High blood pressure.

As with most illnesses, these symptoms are persistent and can get worse over time if you don’t manage stress effectively.

6) Daydream escape

Many people deal with fatigue and stress by daydreaming or excessive escapist fantasies.

The keyword is redundant.

Daydreaming allows us to experience a temporary release from our current circumstances and responsibilities.

It is a mental escape from the challenges, monotony, or emotional turmoil we experience, allowing us to momentarily escape our worries and worries.

Again, nothing wrong with that. But, if you do it all the time, it means something is wrong with your life, and fatigue could be a factor.

7) Existential questions

Join hands with daydreams of questioning the meaning and purpose of your work, life, or existence in general and experiencing an existential crisis.

I have experienced many attacks of existentialism during my life, the most recent less than a few years ago. It’s not related to fatigue, but it’s still “interesting”.

I don’t need to explain to you the feeling of “What’s the point?” However, even if it’s one of the symptoms of burnout, it can also work in your favor.

Although it triggers feelings of uncertainty and existential anxiety, it is an opportunity for personal growth, self-reflection and developing a unique worldview.

Listen to your gut, and do what’s best for you.

8) Lack of motivation

Another widespread symptom of burnout is a lack of motivation. You have little drive, interest, and enthusiasm for anything work-related.

However, this also seeps into your personal life, and you find yourself doing almost nothing outside of working hours.

This usually means you’re always passed out on the couch watching TV, ignoring all aspects of your personal life.

Lack of motivation can also be a signal from your body and mind that you need time to rest, recover, and self-care.

As we know, burnout often arises from work-life imbalance.

9) Mental distance from your work

If you find it difficult to be interested in your job or engage in projects or activities that normally excite you, you may be experiencing burnout.

One thing I have noticed is that you develop a pessimistic or cynical attitude towards your work, colleagues or clients.

This cynicism usually results in a disconnect, where you no longer care about the quality of your work or helping your team or clients.

10) Feel compelled to work constantly

The opposite are symptoms of burnout that make you feel compelled to keep working, have trouble setting boundaries, and neglect personal relationships or leisure activities.

In fact, you have become a workaholic.

Workaholics have a strong preoccupation with work and a strong need to engage in work-related activities.

They find it difficult to disconnect from work, even outside working hours or holidays.

It kinda feels like I’m describing myself, to be honest. But luckily, I didn’t experience this next sign (again).

11) You have constant “Scary Sundays”.

The so-called “Sunday scares” are the feelings of dread that you start to experience on Sunday afternoon or evening when you start to think about Monday and work.

Most people experience this, so know that you’re not alone, and basically, anyone you come in contact with can relate.

With fatigue, this feeling appears the night before the working day, in the morning, or even as a continuous feeling.

When the thought of work causes anxiety, fear, or discomfort, you know you have to find a solution.

12) Increased forgetfulness

Experiencing more frequent memory lapses or having trouble remembering simple tasks or information is also a sign that you’re not just tired but truly exhausted.

One of the reasons this is starting to happen is because you are constantly preoccupied with lots of thoughts, tasks, and worries.

This cognitive overload makes it difficult to focus and remember information effectively, leading to increased forgetfulness.

How to overcome boredom

If you’re experiencing signs of burnout, it’s important to address the problem rather than trying to overcome it (as I tried to do).

Here are some potential solutions to help manage and recover from burnout:

Rest and relaxation

This is the quickest step you should take. Make sure you get enough sleep, and make time for relaxation and recreational activities that you enjoy.

Changes in environment or work

If your burnout is related to your current work environment or role, you should consider a change.

This could mean switching departments, looking for a new job, or even changing careers altogether. This is of course very helpful to me.

Practice self-care

Self-care covers all aspects of maintaining your physical, mental and emotional health.

This ranges from small daily routines, such as taking a walk during your lunch break, to more important things, such as taking a vacation.

Professional assistance

If fatigue symptoms persist, you should also seek professional help. Therapists and counselors will provide strategies and treatments for this serious problem.

physical activity

Regular physical activity helps reduce stress, improve your mood and increase your energy level. Choose activities you enjoy to make it easier to incorporate exercise into your routine.

I recently started jumping rope (no rope) and haven’t looked back!

Set boundaries

Making clear boundaries between work and personal time is important, especially if you work from home.

This could mean setting specific working hours, taking regular breaks, or creating a dedicated workspace.

I stopped working at night, even though it meant making less money. It is not worth my health.