5 Early Warning Signs of Burnout You Shouldn’t Ignore

Burnout doesn’t strike like a sudden storm—it builds over time, often quietly, until one day, it feels like you’ve hit a wall. But you don’t have to wait until you're completely overwhelmed to take action. If you pay attention to the early warning signs, you can prevent burnout before it spirals out of control. In this post, we’ll explore five key indicators that you’re heading towards burnout, and what you can do to stop it in its tracks.

1. Constant Exhaustion

This isn’t just the kind of tiredness you feel after a long day—it’s a bone-deep exhaustion that persists no matter how much rest you get. You may wake up tired, drag through the day, and struggle to find the energy for activities you used to enjoy.

Action Step: Start incorporating regular, restorative rest into your routine—whether that’s meditation, light exercise, or taking breaks throughout the day to reset.

2. Loss of Motivation

Have you noticed a lack of enthusiasm for work or personal projects you once found exciting? When you’re nearing burnout, even tasks you once enjoyed can feel overwhelming or meaningless.

Action Step: Reconnect with what truly motivates you. Take some time to reflect on your values and passions, and consider whether you’re overloading yourself with responsibilities that don’t align with those core drivers. If this feels hard, phone a friend and get them to help you work through it.

3. Increased Irritability or Big Emotions

Burnout can manifest as a shorter fuse—feeling irritable or upset over things that wouldn’t normally bother you. If you’re snapping at colleagues or loved ones over minor issues, this could be a sign that your stress levels are too high.

Action Step: Build emotional awareness. Start practising mindfulness or journaling to process emotions in a healthier way. You may also want to create some boundaries to protect your energy.

4. Difficulty Focusing

Struggling to concentrate, making small mistakes, or having trouble making decisions? Burnout often impairs our ability to think clearly, which makes everything feel more overwhelming.

Action Step: Implement focus techniques like the Pomodoro method or time-blocking to break work into manageable chunks. Reduce multitasking and give yourself permission to take regular brain breaks.

5. Feeling Detached or Cynical

If you’re starting to feel emotionally disconnected from your work or personal life—or even cynical about the people around you—this is a major red flag for burnout. It’s often accompanied by a sense of helplessness or hopelessness.  

Action Step: Prioritise self-care and find ways to reconnect with what gives your life meaning. This might involve reducing stressors, talking to a mentor, or seeking professional coaching.

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Recognising these early warning signs of burnout is the first step towards reclaiming balance in your life. Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable—by paying attention to these signals, you can make proactive changes to protect your well-being.

Ready to dive deeper?  

I’ve put together a quiz I call “Ready to Unmask your Burnout?” It’s a set of questions designed to raise your awareness about how you feel and where you might be on your burnout cycle.  

If any of these signs resonate with you, don’t wait - take the quiz and depending on your result, we’ll share relevant tools with you.  

If you want to reach out for a confidential discussion, please Book A Call With Me

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