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Managing Busy-Ness: Burnout Signs to Watch Out For
Being busy is a good sign if you're managing a growing business. But don't let your busyness lead to stress and burnout. Managing daily tasks and being on top of every project takes a toll on our health and well-being. Even the most well-adjusted solopreneur isn't impervious to burnout.
And when you're feeling burned out, you're not performing your best. To avoid the stresses of everyday work, you must recognise the signs before it's too late. Here are tell-tale signs that you need a break from work:
5 Burnout Signs to Watch Out For
You Dread Working
Do you feel like spending the rest of the day in bed rather than writing yet another one of your fantastic blog posts? Do you have to drag yourself to your desk every day? If the answer to these questions is a resounding yes, it's time to step back and give yourself a break.
Our feelings about work change on a daily basis, but if you're no longer finding joy in what you're doing, you are burned out. Besides taking breaks, look for reasons to be excited about work or make positive changes to remove feelings of dread in your workplace.
You're Irritable
While it's impossible to get along with everyone – your teammates, employees, clients, etc. – being consistently irritable is a sign that you're projecting your anger or frustration to other people. A quick temper can cause you to lose clients and employees.
Whenever you feel intense emotions like anger or frustration, check if the person is doing something wrong. If a team member makes a mistake, constructive advice will go a long way.
Smooth any misunderstanding with a client by taking time for a call to explain whatever aspects of the project need understanding. It's equally important to sit down and figure out the real issue behind your irritability.
You Feel Mentally and Physically Drained
If you spend a good amount of your time staring into space instead of ticking tasks off your to-dos because you feel spent before the day even began, it's a sign you've been pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion.
Other signs to watch out for are constant headaches, back pain, and fatigue. If you've been feeling mentally and physically drained, take a break and find healthy ways to manage stress.
Regular workouts, eating healthier, getting enough sleep, and spending time with loved ones are the perfect cure for tired, frazzled nerves.
Negative Thoughts Start Creeping In
Have you always been optimistic about your business, but then you're starting to feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts? Your negative feelings might come from expectations that aren't met or getting too little reward for something you've worked so hard for – but mostly, such thoughts reflect your current state of mind.
Whatever it is that's affecting your mood, give yourself a much-needed rest and look at things from an objective angle. Try stepping back and asking someone familiar with your situation to give honest advice. Things always look worse when you're letting muddled feelings get in the way of business. Having someone assess the situation frees you from your own biases.
You're dissociating
Despite caring so much about your work, you feel strangely detached – like your tasks no longer require attention and do not care about completing them.
Feeling detached or dissociating happens when expectations are no longer met and repetitive tasks cause of frustration. If you've been disassociating from work, try focusing on the results you have at the moment. Think about your motivation – the reason why you're doing what you do in the first place. It may not feel like it, but you have come very far. And if you keep going, your hard work will pay off.
Feeling burned out is normal, especially if you're juggling so many things at work. And you'll have the same feeling at some point, even if you're simply indulging in your hobby or while at home. Of course, burnout isn't healthy, so it's important to step back and look after yourself before the problem worsens.
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