13 Warning Signs of Burnout

Job burnout and how to spot it. 
Does achieving the American Dream conflict with work-life balance: The WHO says yes, calling burnout an “occupational phenomenon” that may require professional attention.
Finding a suitable balance between work and daily living is a challenge that many workers in the United States face.
Excelling in the office, exceeding expectations, and climbing the corporate ladder are all a part of the American dream. But many Americans struggle to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life. And that struggle can lead to an all-too-familiar feeling: burnout.

In fact, occupational burnout is such a problem in the U.S. and around the world that the World Health Organization, the WHO said that “burnout” is an “occupational phenomenon” that could lead someone to seek care although they did not go as far as to call it an official medical condition. In our hustle-obsessed culture, burnout has become a widespread epidemic. The constant state of exhaustion and overwhelm is still somewhat normalized. You wear busy as a badge of honor, and often ignore the early indicators that you're careening straight toward burnout town. 
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So, how can you tell if you’re actually burnt out? And more importantly, what can you do about it? Let’s dig into what you need to know so that you can kick that feeling of dread to the curb and reignite some excitement about your work (and life).

What Is Burnout? 
Burnout is way more than a bad day or a groan-worthy project. It’s a persistent feeling of disinterest, disdain, hopelessness, and fatigue in regards to your work life.

Here are 13 signs that you're heading for burnout:
Specific symptoms of burnout include:
1.     Having a negative and critical attitude at work.
2.     Dreading going into work, and wanting to leave once you're there.
3.     Having low energy and little interest at work.
4.     Having trouble sleeping.
5.     Being absent from work a lot.
6.     Having feelings of emptiness.
7.     Experiencing physical complaints such as headaches, illness, or backache.
8.     Being irritated easily by team members or clients.
9.     Having thoughts that your work doesn't have meaning or make a difference.
10.  Pulling away emotionally from your colleagues or clients.
11.  Feeling that your work and contribution goes unrecognized.
12.   Blaming others for your mistakes.
13.   You're thinking of quitting work, or changing roles.

Here are some tips to help avoid burnout, stop and be:
Make time for doing nothing, and do it with purpose. Figure out when you’re most productive and creative, then notice when your mind starts to shut off or you start performing tasks just for the sake of doing them.  That’s when you should go for a walk or take a break. The intention behind the decision is what counts.
Mr. Kets de Vries said. “I know that without breaks I cannot be effective.” Prioritize the things that are important to you and the things that bring you pleasure, and outsource everything else when possible. Focusing on the truly relevant parts of life can help you build free time in your schedule. And take advantage of convenient opportunities to practice idleness, like when you’re standing in line or waiting for the children to come home from school.

Reorganize your environment.
Your surroundings can have a major impact on how much nothingness you can embrace, so consider the physical space in your home and workplace. Keep your devices out of reach so that they’ll be more difficult to access, and turn your home into a niksen-friendly area. Add a soft couch, a comfy armchair, a few cushions or just a blanket. Orient furniture around a window or fireplace rather than a TV.
“If those spaces are present, people will use them,” Ms. Dodgen-Magee said.
Think outside of the box. If you can’t sit still in your home or workplace, go to the park or read a book. 

If you're still uncomfortable with the idea of 'doing nothing’, try tricking your mind into thinking that you're busy by using toys and games like Kinetic Sand, Marble Run or Baoling Balls and such.

What steps are you taking to avoid burnout?

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