The signs of physical exhaustion shouldn’t be ignored. Trying to impress your co-workers with an all-nighter or ignore your lack of sleep as the inevitable result of a hard week will only spell disaster.
Burnout is at an all-time high. More American workers are calling in mental health days than ever before and recent surveys have revealed disastrous statistics concerning workplace anger, rates of depression and sick days. While it’s important to have a burnout treatment plan in place for when the signs of physical exhaustion become too intense to ignore, it’s also important to prevent burnout in the first place. This not only means being honest about your personal signs of physical exhaustion, but your signs of emotional exhaustion, too.
Let’s take a look at the 5 stages of burnout.
You’re Struggling To Fall Asleep Or Stay Asleep
A sign you’re starting to experience burnout is experiencing poor sleep habits. While struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep once in a while is perfectly normal, such as when you have an exam the next day, this shouldn’t occur multiple times per week. It’s normal for a person to fall asleep in 20 minutes or less, with rest being consistent throughout the night. If you are laying awake for hours, or not falling asleep at all, it’s time to take a look at your week and figure out where the stress is coming from. A lack of sleep can harm your short-term memory and even increase your risk of stroke.
You Grind Your Teeth Or Clench Your Jaw
A lesser-known symptom of anxiety is teeth grinding and clenching. A lot of people don’t even realize they’re doing it until they experience strange jaw pain the next day. Mental health and physical health are intertwined, affecting each other on a rolling basis, and your emotionally drained symptoms can manifest in seemingly unusual ways. Two-thirds of men and women stated in a recent survey about work-life balance that their workplace has a significant impact on their stress level. Workplace stress also causes a collective one million Americans to miss work every day.
You Feel Out-Of-Touch With Your Social Life, Peer Group Or Significant Other
Are you lonely? Do you struggle to gain even one hour of free time? Feeling out-of-touch with your social life can put a serious damper on your mental health, leaving you depressed and moody. The medical field is notable for having some of the highest rates of depression and anxiety compared to the general population, with a recent study finding medical students report mental illness at a rate 30% higher than average. Overall there is a 35% burnout rate among American physicians, with a poor work-life balance often to blame.
You Don’t Enjoy The Same Hobbies You Used To Anymore
Life burnout can cause even your most beloved hobbies to lose their edge. Whether it’s painting on your spare time or going for a hike with your dog, it’s time to take burnout seriously when you can’t get the same joy out of your favorite activities anymore. Depression is characterized by hopelessness, difficulty focusing and a loss of interest in previous passions. It can even lead to physical symptoms such as getting sick more often. A burnout therapy group can do the dual work of providing you a support system while exposing you to like-minded people who share your interests.
You’re Missing More Work Than Usual
Last, but not least, you know burnout is starting to get out of control when you can’t even go to work. It’s estimated one out of four Americans have taken a mental health day recently and recent reports across the country have seen employee sick days costing businesses billions of dollars. Losing work can impact your ability to gain a promotion and make it hard to pay your bills. Pushing forward without regards to your health, though, will only encourage further burnout rates. When you start noticing the signs of job burnout, it’s your responsibility to reach out.
Don’t ignore the signs of physical exhaustion. Ask for a helping hand this year and pull yourself back together again piece by piece.
