Burnout
Spotting the Signs Before You Hit the Wall
Life gets busy. Long days, tight deadlines, and never-ending pressure can wear you down. Push hard enough for long enough and you will burn out. And when that happens, it can knock you flat before you even realise what’s going on. The good news? If you know what to look for, you can catch it early and do something about it.
What is Burnout?
Think back to your 20s, hooning around the neighbourhood, a burnout is when you loose traction. There is a lot of heat, smoke, and noise, but there is no forward movement.
Effort is not being converted into progress
Burnout isn’t just needing a weekend off. It’s when stress builds up to the point that your body, mind, and emotions are running on fumes. It messes with your mood, your energy, and how you deal with the people around you.
Signs You Might Be Burning Out
Always exhausted: No matter how much you sleep, you feel drained.
Short fuse: The little stuff that never used to bother you suddenly sets you off.
No drive: Work, family, even hobbies feel like a chore.
Aches and pains: Headaches, tension, stomach knots — stress often shows up in the body.
Foggy head: Hard to focus, forgetting things more than usual.
Pulling away: Avoiding mates, family, or things you used to enjoy.
“What’s the point?” thinking: Feeling flat, cynical, or negative about everything.
Why You Can’t Ignore It
Burnout doesn’t just disappear if you push harder. Leave it unchecked, and it can turn into bigger health problems, physically and mentally. But if you spot the signs early, you can reset before it gets too far.
What Helps
Step back: Even a short break can help you reset.
Talk it out: Don’t bottle it up. Share how you’re feeling with a mate or a proffetional.
Rest properly: Sleep, downtime, and small acts of self-care aren’t luxuries, they’re maintenance.
Set boundaries: Learn to say no when you’re at your limit.
Do what you enjoy: Make space for the things that actually give you energy back.
Get support: If you can’t get on top of it alone, counselling can help you untangle it.
Think of it Like Tools
Burnout is like running a drill flat-out on a hot day, after a while, it’s going to give up. It’ll keep going for a while, then one day it just stops. You’re the same, you can’t go flat out, all the time.
Final Thoughts
Burnout isn’t weakness. It’s a warning light that you’ve been pushing too hard for too long. Pay attention to the signs, take action early, and you’ll be able to steer things back on track. Looking after yourself isn’t selfish.
