5 Subtle Signs You’re Close to Burnout
Exhaustion can take many forms, and it’s important you recognize the symptoms before it’s too late.
Hello dear friend,
A year ago, I quit my job to be a full-time writer. In my first month as a self-employed person, I used to work every day, not even taking the weekends off.
Every hour I spent on my laptop meant I could be earning more. Taking breaks started to feel like I was cheating on myself.
Work was fun, and I loved being in control of my life.
Whenever someone asked me what I was doing, my answer was always the same: “Working!”
The odd hours shocked my friends, but I was ready with a joke, “I quit my job. Now, I don’t work 9–5. I work 24x7.”
They laughed, I laughed, and the situation always dissolved.
But after a while, the pace got to me. I felt drained, unable to muster the motivation to write even a single post.
I didn’t understand what was wrong. Writing was supposed to be my passion. Why did my brain turn blank the moment I opened a screen to write something new?
At a loss for what to do, I talked to my therapist. We spent hours together, and after intensive journaling sessions, I realized how close I was to burning out.
This came as a shock.
Being self-employed meant I had the freedom to choose my own hours. How did I end up pushing my limits so much that I led myself to the brink of exhaustion?
As I did some research, it turns outburnout is common among entrepreneurs and self-employed people. And its consequences are terrible.
Burnout can happen to anyone no matter what your journey’s like and where you work. Left untreated, it can lead to stress, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and illness vulnerability.
Hence, it is crucial to pick up the early signs of burnout.
Here are five subtle signs of burnout and their prevention measures:
1. You are exhausted all the time.
This is a sign you need to maintain your work-life balance strictly.
2. You feel overwhelmed and extraordinarily nihilistic.
This can be reduced by socializing more.
3. You have escape fantasies at an alarming rate.
To get rid of this, allocate time for doing what you love. Keep searching for your passions if you haven’t found them yet.
4. You lose your cool quickly.
Getting eight hours of sleep every night might solve this.
5. Your body is showing signs.
Signs like irregular sleep, frequent headaches, stomach pain, high blood pressure, etc. A healthy diet and exercise routine can be your savior.
I hope this newsletter made you aware of burnout and its signs. Prevention is always better than cure.
So take care of yourself and try applying some preventive measures unless you want to have a mental breakdown like I did in my first month of being self-employed.
If you find these symptoms in any of your family members or friends, don’t hesitate to share this newsletter with them. A helping hand today goes a long way in curing the pain of tomorrow.
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That’s all from my end today. I’ll see you again soon. Till then, stay strong. Keep smiling and be awesome.
With love,
Anangsha.