Am I Burnt Out?

Despite Covid restrictions long being lifted, cases have seen a recent surge and there’s quite a lot going on in the world still. There’s a lot to consider and juggle, so it’s no surprise that so many people are feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. But how exactly do you tell when this kind of exhaustion is developing into more of a problem and verging on burn out??

Here are the key signs I would urge you to look out for if you are currently wondering “am I burnt out?”

Are you seeing your energy levels dip significantly throughout the day? What are your normal energy levels like? It’s really important that we are aware of our normal routines and behaviours so we can acknowledge when something doesn’t feel like our usual selves. Simply ask yourself “Am I feeling more tired compared to usual??”.

I personally bite my lower lip a lot… many of my clients find themselves sighing, seeking out caffeinated beverages more than normal…

Our energy levels are a very good indicator of our overall mental and physical load.

You no longer feel like yourself. You feel disconnected from the things going on around you, you often feel too exhausted to engage in daily things. This can lead to you wondering “Am I burnt out” as you have stopped doing the things you usually do to take care of yourself. You may find yourself eating at irregular intervals and sleeping odd hours.

You could find yourself retreating inwards. Withdrawing from spending time with your friends and family. You could just be spending your time alone because you are completely exhausted.

If you’ve taken part in one of my stress and sleep sessions you will already know how our sleep is inextricably linked to so many other parts of our bodies. So, it stands to reason that a change within our sleep patterns could be an indicator that something is going on.

With sleep, first up consider quantity, are you getting fewer hours than you usually would or do you find yourself sleeping for longer??

Perhaps, more importantly, is your sleep quality. Do you get up and actually feel rested?? I frequently see people where there is a direct correlation between daytime stress and difficulty with their sleep. I’m a huge advocate of meditation and mindfulness practices to help improve this.

Things that may have once peaked your interest or held your attention, no longer stimulate the same response. Because of the way burnout manifests itself within our bodies we can be left feeling depressed and low.

The main difference between burnout and laziness is that you didn’t used to feel this way. Laziness may be a more habitual trait, but if you experience a loss of motivation, passion, and you’re not used to feeling this way it may well be burn out as opposed to laziness.

Take a moment at this point to consider whether you are more engaged in passive activities as opposed to activities which you need to engage in.
It is important to catch burnout early on, acknowledging how you feel and taking note of what might be causing you to feel this way.
So, bearing in mind what we have talked about in this post I want to leave you with one final thought… self-care is not selfish!! Recognising you are not your usual self is ok, and taking time for you is an integral part of your happiness and well-being!!.

H xx