If you’ve been feeling stressed and overwhelmed lately, you’re not alone. Though stress is a normal feeling each and every one of us deals with, it’s not something you should take lightly. But how do you know when it’s just too much?
Whether your stress stems from your job or daily life tasks, you need to be sure that you understand how it can affect you. Here are some signs that you may be burnt out.
Physical and Emotional Exhaustion
One of the most obvious signs that your burnt out is exhaustion. When your body and mind feel completely spent, consider this a first and prominent sign that you’re burnt out. You will feel tired most days and find that you have no energy at any point in your day. Because this not only affects the body, but also the mind, you may feel disconnected from relationships and lose the desire to complete, or even start, daily tasks.
Unexplained Frustration
Because of your stress, you may find yourself in fight or flight mode in almost every situation. This means that your filter for irritability and patience is very thin. Outbursts, physical or verbal, are often the main result of frustration. If you can’t get through even the first half of your workday without screaming, crying or over-exaggerating any given situation, this is another sign that you’re burning out.
Poor Concentration
A common resolution for people who feel stressed is to distract themselves with a new piece of work. However, this can quickly become a problem, as your mind is surely tired and distracted. Though many people claim to be great at multitasking, it can actually negatively affect your concentration and productivity. When your problem solving skills diminish and your decision making skills can’t be trusted, it may be a sign you’re burnt out.
Chronic Sickness
Walking around with a dark cloud of stress can seriously affect your health. Aside from depression, you may suffer from migraines, digestive issues, heart disease or even something as simple as a cold you just can’t shake. This is a sign of burning out, as your body is trying to signal you to slow down. When your brain function is thrown off, it doesn’t only affect your mind, but your entire body.
Loss of Sleep or No Sleep
Combining the stress of the day with the dread of what the next day will bring can keep your brain awake through all hours of the night. Insomnia causes many forms of anxiety, which will only burn you out more. And the longer you stay in this cycle, the harder it will be to break out of the fight or flight mindset and rest your mind.
