This post is for all my fellow highly ambitious people who push themselves really hard. While there are many benefits to this personality type, there’s also a negative side where you overwork yourself. We’ve all been there exhausted to another level day, dreaming about sleeping, and excited to do absolutely nothing. Feeling burnt out can happen as a direct result of a toxic work environment or, when we exert all of our energy into doing the work that we love.
You’re working hard and hustling to build a career you love. But you’re also tired, stressed, and feeling cynical about the future. When this happens from time to time, it’s pretty normal. But when this is a consistent feeling, it’s a sign that you’re over exhausting your physical and mental health.
1. You feel disconnected from others
When your head down cranking out work for 10 plus hours a day, you start to feel a bit distant from others. You know the feeling when you’re not checking your phone then when you finally do you’re 50 messages behind in your group chat. Then you’re so drained you don’t have any energy left to give. When that becomes a cycle, we start to avoid social settings that we once enjoyed just because the thought of the amount of effort you have to put in becomes daunting. Or we stop scrolling on social media because we get caught in a comparison trap.
One way to recover from this is to reach out to one person who makes you feel comfortable and safe. Set aside time to connect with them to vent, do something you both enjoy, or just have a good laugh.
2. You feel overwhelmed by daily tasks
When the thought of doing normal life tasks such as laundry, cooking dinner, or even doing a 15 minute workout feels like the end of the world, it’s time to reprioritize. A good to-do list shouldn’t feel overwhelming. It should be structured enough where it is doable. However according to a LinkedIn study, 89% of professionals feel they’ve not accomplished their daily tasks.
One way to recover is to STOP MULTITASKING. When you multitask, you’re doing multiple things poorly instead of one thing greatly. Also narrow down your tasks, I always tell my clients to set three priorities for the days that must be done. Then list four more tasks that you’d like to get done, but if you don’t get to them, they’ll be priorities for another day. For more help with creating a more manageable to-do list, watch this video. If you want to chat about your to-do list strategy that currently isn’t working, book a call with me.
3. You feel exhausted all of the time
Raise your hand if you’ve been so tired before you’ve cried. Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who’s done that. When I first started my side hustle while working a full-time corporate job in advertising, I was exhausted a lot of the time. It was because I didn’t have set systems, I wasn’t getting adequate sleep nor taking many breaks. I was burnt out.
I prioritized my passions over everything else. Struggling to relax was a normal occurrence. Like I felt guilty doing nothing. When I would try to sleep, my mind would be racing with ideas and all kinds of thoughts about the future.
One way to recover is to set boundaries and take breaks. Set aside time everyday to relax. For me that’s reading, journaling, watching a show, or meditating. I also set a cut off time to stop working. To be honest, I struggle with following my cutoff time because sometimes I’m just in the zone. But I combat this by setting an alarm as a reminder to stop working and I also tell my fiancé so he can hold me accountable. Or you can just hire a time management coach like me.
4. You feel like you’re losing joy and motivation
Have you ever questioned “Why am I even doing this?” “Is this even worth it, what’s my purpose?” When the negative thoughts start to take over, you try to reframe them, and even that doesn’t work; it’s time to take a step back.
One way to recover is to refer back to your brag book and reflect on how far you’ve come. When I’m feeling low, I refer to my book of compliments and accomplishments. I also have an entire album of screenshots from people that remind me of why I started my business in the first place. This reminds me of why The Fire Inside blog, coaching, and content creation is valuable. Another thing you can do is start planning things that make you feel joyful into your daily schedule. For some that may be indulging in your favorite retreat or watching your favorite show.
5. You’re dreading work and social interaction
The feeling of dread can make you want to avoid your daily activities and interacting with people. Anger is a normal part of life, but burnout can make you feel irritated with those around you more often than usual. If small things are setting you off, it’s because you’re doing too much and the stress is taking over. Or alternatively, if the thought of getting up and going to work puts you in a horrible mood daily, you’re burnt out. This can sometimes even lead to physical pain like headaches, nausea or loss of appetite.
One way to recover from this is to complete a gratitude exercise. This is when you reflect on things you’re grateful for. You should also reflect on what is causing you to feel this way. If you still can’t figure it out for yourself, consider talking to a friend, family member, or a therapist.
If this post resonated with you, share it with someone you know feels burnt out and needs an outlet.