Has your alarm clock ever gone off in the morning and you thought to yourself, “Do I really need this job?” It’s not uncommon to dread going into work some days, especially when workloads and tight deadlines are waiting for you at the door, but that shouldn’t become a daily occurrence.
Many people deal with that daily occurrence by convincing themselves they’re just in a rut, that things will bounce back, or that it’s just because of the current nature of your job and that it will all blow over. What they’re not taking into account is burnout. If any of this sounds familiar, then take a look at these five signs of burnout at work.
1.Work Doesn’t Get You Excited
Sure, work isn’t the most exciting thing you could be doing with your life compared to a beachside vacation or your favorite hobby. However, employees do find interest and enthusiasm in what they do. You might feel fulfilled when you complete a project, create a carefully crafted product, or even just get a delivery in on time as a few examples.
When the small thrills you used to enjoy fade away, that’s a red flag. Your work should be fulfilling to you in some way, if not several ways. If you notice this trend heading outside your place of employment to your home or relationships, that’s a red flag for depression.
2. Minimal Effort
When tasks no longer excite you, you tend to stop caring about them. That’s true for humans from childhood all the way to their twilight years. As you stop caring about the job, you stop putting in the same level of effort you used to. Eventually, you’re just punching in and out to collect a paycheck.
3. Your Performance Slips
With that minimal effort comes a lack of performance or productivity. You might stop double-checking important pieces of information, find yourself getting sloppy, or start letting deadlines pass you by. At this point, burnout is officially a significant issue.
4. Exhaustion
Fatigue sets as these signs go on. You’ll start noticing a decrease in your physical energy while your mental and emotional states are drained. Getting up, ready, and heading to work becomes a daunting task on a daily basis.
5. Physical Ailments
Stress, when left unmanaged, presents itself in the form of physical ailments. People experiencing burnout typically experience this sign down the line, but it can happen faster than you think. Common symptoms include:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Getting sick more often
- Gastrointestinal pain
What to Do
If these signs and symptoms sound all too familiar, it’s time to tackle your burnout. The key is getting to the root of the issue. A vacation or time off isn’t going to cut it since neither changes your work environment.
Ultimately, you have three options. The first is to change your attitude, recognizing bad habits and thought patterns and working to stop them. That often requires the help of counselor or mental health professional, but it’s worth it.
The second is to change your workload. Talk with your managers and see if they can take a little bit of responsibility or even just tasks off your plate. That can help you get back on your feet and back to normal as it eliminates stress.
If the issue is your work environment, however, you’ll need to take more drastic steps. Hiring this San Francisco workplace harassment attorney would be a solution to a harassing boss or coworker, for instance. Reach out to HR first regardless of the issue, but know that you have plenty of other avenues to pursue if that turns out to be a dead end.