How do you know if you’re just having a bad day or if you’ve reached work burnout? Here are the red flags that it’s time to re-evaluate.
By Leslie K. Hughes
Has that Friday afternoon anticipation become your new norm? It’s a way of life for many, so don’t worry — you have plenty of company in your misery.
But that feeling of anticipation can be more than just an eagerness to close your computer for the day. It can be more than just the wish that you were somewhere else. That feeling can be burnout — a term that’s become a part of the modern day vernacular.
Burnout has become even more common with quarantine and the struggle to separate work and home when you are working from home.
So how do you know if you’re just having a bad day or if you’ve reached work burnout?
Here are the red flags that may be waving, warning that you have an unhealthy relationship with work that needs to be conscious uncoupled.
Signs Your Job is Really Stressing You Out, And What To Do About It
1. Lunch breaks are a thing of the past
You’ve reached burnout when you find yourself working through lunch on a regular basis. Studies show that over 50% of peoples’ lunch companions are their laptops and phones. Thoughts of enjoying lunch with a friend, hell — even taking a break from your work for 30 minutes to nourish yourself in peace are as lost in the dust as a pair of white shoes at Coachella.
WHAT DO I DO?
Make lunch breaks a priority. Schedule them like you would a meeting and do not ever, under any circumstances, work through a lunch break.
2. You’re Googling “coffee IV”s
We hope the best part of waking up is not Folgers in your cup, but rather a perfect flat white. However, when that morning cup of coffee turns into you double-fisting coffee throughout the entire day, every day, that’s a telltale sign that you’ve hit work burnout.
Chances are good this coffee is an attempt to remedy the fact that you didn’t get enough sleep which brings us to another red flag. . .
WHAT DO I DO?
Cap yourself at two coffees a day. Once the afternoon hits, switch to non-caffeinated tea or something that will keep you from staying wired all night long.
3. A good night’s sleep is the only thing you fantasize about
Why waste time sleeping when you can instead lie in bed stressing over what work you didn’t get done today, and what you need to get done tomorrow?
If you find yourself anxious and unable to calm your mind when it comes time to hit the hay and log some zzzs, chances are good you can thank work burnout. Just because your body may feel ready to call it a day certainly does not mean your brain is ready.
WHAT DO I DO?
Cut the emails an hour before bed, if not earlier. Make a real effort to nix emailing from bed.
(Just be careful you don’t end up going to the other extreme and getting too much sleep.)
4. You’re wondering if you need an Adderall prescription
The more stressed and anxious people are, the more they struggle to focus on one thing at a time and instead attempt to do as many things as possible simultaneously. While some of us are self-proclaimed masters at multitasking, studies show that multitasking is less productive, and, further, can actually negatively affect your memory.
WHAT DO I DO?
Time blocking is a great way to train your brain to focus on one task at a time (check out this Visceral fave time blocking tool). We are also huge fans of Google Calendar and scheduling out all of your tasks so you can visualize what you need to do.
5. The only workout in your life is walking away from your laptop
When working out gives way to just working, it is time to reassess. Working out is a great stress reliever, and if you aren’t releasing that negative energy via exercise, it will continue to cycle as negative energy you bring into your work.
WHAT DO I DO?
Stop, drop and roll it out on the mat, or wherever you prefer to do your workouts.
6. Your brain has put a hex on sex
When stress hits, say “sayonara” to any sexy bedroom seshes. Stress can cause your cortisol levels to spike, which makes it nearly impossible to reach any sort of O. Add to this your brain’s inability to focus on being turned on thanks to stress taking the reins, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything getting hard.
WHAT DO I DO?
If you’re open to new things, we suggest trying accupuncture to save your sex life. Meditation is another great option that will help you decompress after a stressful day at work.
7. Annoyed is your constant state of mind
Is your quarantine buddy typing on his computer about to set you over the edge? Does the sound of a phone ringing make you want to grab a baseball bat and go Office Space? If you find yourself irked at every. little. thing. then you are the poster child for work burnout.
WHAT DO I DO?
When you feel that annoyed vibe about to attack, take a walk. Plug in your AirPods and get some positive energy moving through you.
If any or all of the above are painfully familiar, then we can skip WebMD and go right to diagnosing you with work burnout. Doctor’s orders are one (or all) of the following: take a vacation, make your time away from work all about relaxing, or start the hunt for a new job.
