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Shreya is so stressed about work that she has stopped caring. She thinks of resigning every day. Nothing makes her happy, not even the prospect of working on important projects.
Things she liked to do at work earlier—spending time with coworkers and working towards career advancement—no longer give her joy. After four years in the same organization, Shreya is experiencing a sense of detachment unlike ever before.
Exhaustion, feeling disconnected and distracted or even being cynical about work are typical signs of burnout.
Burnout is a common phenomenon where you may experience workplace stress, which makes you perform poorly and can even affect your career in the long run. Let’s look at common work burnout symptoms to help you recognize whether you’re experiencing burnout.
What Are The Signs Of Burnout?
The first step is recognizing that there is, in fact, a problem. You may be experiencing burnout symptoms without even realizing it. Here’s a list of 10 common burnout symptoms to give you an idea:
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Chronic Stress
If you feel pressured to go to work and complete your tasks on time, you may be experiencing chronic stress. It’s a long-drawn feeling of worry or anxiety which prevents you from performing your tasks, let alone doing more than what’s expected. Chronic stress is one of the most common signs of burnout and you should look out for it.
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Lack Of Motivation
Your work may seem burdensome or taxing, making you feel demotivated and unwilling to take initiative. You get by doing the bare minimum. A lack of motivation often goes hand in hand with monotony or complacency at work. If you’ve been doing the same thing for years, you may be averse to making an effort. It’s important to step out of your comfort zone to avoid getting stuck in a rut.
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Being Cynical
Cynicism is a feeling of distrust and a loss of hope or faith. You feel like you can no longer associate with your organization’s mission and goals. This loss of association prevents you from interacting with your coworkers. You may become averse to the idea of teamwork or collaboration.
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Feeling Exhausted
If the thought of going to work tires you out, you may be experiencing work burnout symptoms. Feeling exhausted is common when you’re burnt out because you feel like there’s no point in making an effort. Additionally, work expectations can seem exhausting because of a lack of motivation to perform in the first place.
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Dreaming About End Of The Day
Daydreaming about the weekend or end of the workday is one of the most common signs of burnout at work. Everyone wants Friday to come sooner, but when this becomes habitual and keeps you from doing your job, it can lead to burnout.
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Reduced Performance
Burnout may affect your work performance, leaving you with little willpower to come up with original ideas, take initiative or implement feedback. You won’t feel the need to go above and beyond what’s expected of you. The expectation to do more than the bare minimum may even frustrate you to a certain extent.
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Alienation From Coworkers
Feeling like an outsider in your team is another common burnout symptom. You could hold back from communicating with your coworkers and not make an effort to get along with them. The thought of socializing at work can leave you emotionally drained as well.
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Distraction
An inability to concentrate on work can be a consequence of burnout. If you find yourself getting distracted easily, you may be losing interest in your work. It could take a lot of effort for you to recenter your focus.
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Finding Everyday Tasks Negative
Many times, when you experience work burnout symptoms, you may feel negative about your daily tasks. Having to do these tasks can make you feel resentful and distract you from going about your day. You’re more likely to get into arguments with others, without thinking about the consequences.
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Hopelessness And Resignation
Work burnout depletes your energy and affects you emotionally. You are feeling hopeless about your professional journey. You may feel detached from your organization, thinking that your efforts are going to waste.
Burnout may be difficult to identify and treat, but with proper guidance and time-management frameworks, you can find ways to overcome it. You need to govern yourself to prioritize your tasks and be productive.
Harappa Education’s Practicing Excellence course is designed to teach you how to overcome burnout by putting your best foot forward and practicing self-governance. With frameworks like the Three Ps of Time Management (Prioritization, Procrastination, Punctuality), you’ll learn how to be more productive, manage your time efficiently and achieve excellence.
Explore topics such as How to Deal With Burnout, What is a Stress Cycle, How to Handle Stress at Work & Different Relaxation Techniques from Harappa Diaries and develop self-awareness to lead on a path of self-improvement.
