Long-term job stress can lead to a burnout. Work-related stress seriously affects your physical and mental health. A burnout leaves you feeling empty and depleted. Most importantly of all, a burnout should be taken seriously.
Burnout can be the result of many factors: work, lifestyle or personality.
In the workplace, a burnout can be the result of a heavy workload or feeling under-appreciated. It can be due to an unclear job role or tasks. Boredom or conflicts with your boss or colleagues can be root causes. Or it could be a mismatch with the company culture or a case of misaligned role expectations.
Whatever the cause, here are six warning signs that you may be experiencing a burnout.
Physical Exhaustion
A strong and initial indicator of a burnout is often a lack of energy and feeling constantly tired. You feel totally drained.
Maintaining a healthy diet, exercise and sleep levels become prominent issues. There may be insomnia and notable weight loss.
You may lack motivation, drive and enthusiasm to do anything in general.
Emotional Exhaustion
You feel irritable, negative and inexplicably angry. Anxiety impacts your ability to do your job.
Absenteeism and Illness
Your immune system is put to the test when you operate daily under stress. Viruses and bugs find you an easy target.
There may also be a realm of psychosomatic issues. Stress often outs itself in headaches, heart palpitations and stomach problems.
Feeling Inept at Work
A striking realization is that you no longer enjoy your work. Once motivated and hardworking you are apathetic about your job. A burnout can leave you performing under par or more inefficiently than you once did. It feels like your to-do list is constantly growing.
Once a confident worker, you are no longer sure of your capabilities and become cynical about your job. There is a feeling of pointlessness to the work you do. Your self-worth takes a nose-dive.
You look for reasons to come in late to work or leave early.
Concentration Issues
A burnout results in an inability to focus and concentrate.
Social Life and Relationship Problems
You are unable to invest energy in relationships. Your desire to go out and spend time with friends diminishes. You feel disconnected from loved ones. You isolate yourself and do not return phone calls or respond to emails.
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If you think you are experiencing a burnout reach out to someone: a loved one, your doctor or someone you trust in the workplace. Recovering from a burnout takes time, support and often professional help.
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