Real question: How do you know when you're heading toward burnout?
Let’s talk about this…
I’ve been feeling low-level, chronic burnout for weeks and weeks now. I mostly ignored it and was trying to push through, putting pressure on myself to reach a certain milestone before an arbitrary date.
Despite feeling that deep mental tiredness of burnout, I still didn't want to take time off.
But because I was tired, uncreative, and unfocused, I was getting very little done during my workday. (My three “most important” tasks have been on my to-do list for at least 4 weeks! ouch.)
That led to working frequently in the evenings. That, of course, meant I was more tired and getting even less done during my days, so then I even added in weekend work. Gah.
This ridiculous feedback loop sucks me in more often than I’d like to admit, even though I know better. Tell me you do this, too.
Even after I saw myself yelling at the cat for purring too loudly, it still took me a few days to recognize that I need a true break and a couple more days to remember how easy it actually is for me to do that…and how minuscule the consequences are for my business.
Then I got annoyed with myself for not recognizing my burnout sooner.
That was my final thought just before I picked up my laptop to start writing this email: How to notice the early signs of burnout sooner, take them seriously, and act on them?
As a (mostly) reformed workaholic and someone who reveres self-reflection, I don’t want to spend frustrated weeks feeling uncreative and uninspired anymore.
Does it just take more practice? Or maybe setting a mental alarm: If I start to work evenings, that’s when I know I’m heading to the bad place?
Do you have any tricks for catching burnout early on? If you do, please let me know.
(If I get input on this topic, I’ll share what I learn.)
Thank you for listening!
Sign up for my daily (Tues.-Fri.) emails, all about showcasing your small business through writing for connection, simplicity, and intention.
You’ll also automatically get my free guide: Unconventional Reasons to Make Emails Your #1 Marketing Strategy. Update the frequency of your emails or unsubscribe at any time.