If you are a career minded person, whether you are a work-at-home mom, entrepreneur or a CEO at a large firm, you know that the possibility of burnout is around every corner. It happens when you spend too much time at work and when you aren’t at work you spend too much time thinking of work. It’s kind of like an obsessive behavior that revolves around work, and sooner or later your energy is all drained and you just can’t do it anymore.
Some people don’t even know when they are experiencing burnout. They think they are coming down with something, they think it’s just a minor lack of sleep. Not sure? Here are some of the signs that you may be suffering from burnout.
Signs of Burnout
One of the biggest signs of burnout is the uncontrollable exhaustion that comes with it. Maybe you’ve noticed you are more tired than usual, you’re finding it harder to fall asleep at night, or you seem to need naps when you’ve never really needed them before.
Tiredness and exhaustion, as well as insomnia, are all possible signs of career burnout. They could mean something else, but if you spend a lot of time on work related thoughts and projects then it is pretty likely its burnout.
With that exhaustion and sleeplessness comes irritability. That irritability can cause relationship issues, both at home and at work You may start fights at work or at home. You may even react poorly to clients’ questions and concerns. This means that you are risking your job and relationships all because of your work obsession.
Your addiction to work can also cause addiction to other things, such as drugs and alcohol. These things may help you relax when you are stressed, but in the long run they are harming you and your work.
How To Combat Burnout
Make sure you take a day off once in a while and a vacation a couple of times a year. Taking some time off doesn’t just mean not working or not going to the office. It means not thinking about work, putting the phone and email away and concentrating on things you enjoy again.
If you are prone to burnout, and thus having issues with co-workers and clients, it can also help you relax to have a good attorney backing up your business. This isn’t about fixing issues if you punch your boss, but about knowing that your business, small or big, is secure. One less thing for you to worry about.
When you go home from work at the end of the day leave work at work. Make sure you get enough sleep. Take up something like jogging or yoga that can help you relax and take your mind off of work stress.
