Burnout is a condition that can be devastating to any professional. Some negative consequences of career burnout include depression, anxiety, chronic stress, irritability, decreased self-worth, lethargy, and more. Moreover, it can take months and sometimes even years to fully recover.
Fortunately, you can prevent burnout by noting the early warning signs.
Physical And Mental Exhaustion
One of the earliest signs that you are approaching burnout is chronic physical and mental exhaustion. If you are constantly tired, even after eight hours of rest, you may be dealing with too much as a professional. But if you are also experiencing mental exhaustion, and you just aren’t motivated and focusing feels impossible, there’s a good chance you are on the verge of career burnout.
If you are overworked due to unhealthy workplace competition or hostility, assessing legal options for dealing with unfair work pressure is recommended. Otherwise, if you are working too much for your own reasons, it’s crucial to reduce your work hours significantly until you can invest yourself fully once again.
You Dread Going To Work
Burnout is on the horizon when you start to dread the job you once thoroughly enjoyed. If you are developing a love-hate relationship with your workplace as you gradually begin to resent your career, there’s a good chance you are heading for burnout.
Instead of pushing yourself to commit to the journey of despising your career, it’s wise to request leave. A few days of rest and relaxation and the chance to spend a bit of time reconnecting with your passions and hobbies is often enough to beat burnout before it takes over.
If you are concerned about how requesting leave for this reason might affect your career, keep in mind that it can take over a year to recover from burnout, which would have a definite devastating impact on your career.
Chronic Stress
One of the primary reasons burnout has such catastrophic impacts on physical and mental wellness is the heightened stress associated with the condition. Chronic stress can lead to an assortment of ailments like depression, anxiety, digestive issues, headaches, migraines, muscle tension, pain, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep problems, and even excessive weight gain or loss.
If you are experiencing chronic stress, visiting your doctor to evaluate your risk of burnout and other health complications is essential. Your healthcare practitioner will recommend lifestyle and career changes while offering suitable treatment to ease your symptoms.
Performance Decline
When you are pushing yourself as much as you can despite feeling unmotivated and exhausted, you might be dealing with the early warning signs of burnout. Unfortunately, forcing yourself to remain devoted to excessive career success is not recommended; it’s essential to take some time off to prevent burning out.
If a reduction in performance is your only early warning sign, you may benefit from a few days off. However, if you are experiencing more than one complaint on this list, it’s crucial to request time off work for a couple of weeks. If you feel that you cannot request leave due to a hostile work environment, consult an employment lawyer for guidance and discuss your symptoms with your doctor.