Signs of Quiet Burnout

Recognizing when you need a mental health break is crucial for maintaining your well-being. Here are some telltale signs to watch for: 🔗Exhaustion: Feeling consistently drained, both physically and emotionally, despite getting adequate sleep and rest. 🔗Irritability: Finding yourself easily frustrated, agitated, or snapping at others over small matters. 🔗Brain Fog: Struggling to focus, make decisions, or remember things that are normally easy for you. 🔗Increased Anxiety: Feeling anxious or on edge more often than usual, with racing thoughts and a sense of unease. 🔗Physical Symptoms: Experiencing frequent headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, or other physical symptoms that may be stress-related. 🔗Withdrawal: Pulling away from social interactions, hobbies, and activities you used to enjoy. 🔗Emotional Numbness: Feeling emotionally detached or numb, as if you're going through the motions without truly engaging. 🔗Mood Swings: Experiencing extreme mood fluctuations, going from feeling okay to extremely low or anxious. 🔗Decreased Self-Care: Neglecting your self-care routines, such as personal hygiene, exercise, and healthy eating. 🔗Loss of Interest: Losing interest in things you once enjoyed and feeling a general sense of apathy. 🔗Physical Illness: Frequently falling ill due to a weakened immune system resulting from chronic stress. If you notice several of these signs persisting, it's important to prioritize your mental health and consider taking a break. Taking time off, engaging in relaxation techniques, seeking professional support, and practicing self-care can all contribute to improving your mental well-being. Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Burnout doesn’t always break people. Sometimes, it just slowly erases them. Not in dramatic collapses: But in missed spark, forgotten joy, and quiet withdrawal. And it’s everywhere. One Deloitte study puts the number at 77 percent: Employees who’ve experienced burnout in their current role. Here’s the truth: Most teams won’t tell you when they’re struggling. But they will show you. Here are 5 silent signs of burnout your team might be hiding: 1. The Quality Slide → The work still gets done but the care behind it is gone. 2. The Emotional Flatline → They show up but their energy and ideas don’t. 3. The Hidden Withdrawal → They slowly disappear from meetings, conversations, and connection. 4. The Subtle Cynicism → Hope is replaced by eye rolls, sarcasm, and quiet disengagement. 5. The Disappeared Boundaries → Work starts creeping into nights, weekends, and everything in between. Here are 6 ways to deal with this: ✅ Re-establish boundaries by modelling healthy habits yourself. ✅ Cut non-essential work and prioritise what truly matters. ✅ Regularly check in with individuals, not just on work. ✅ Make it safe to speak up by being honest yourself. ✅ Encourage time off and make sure it’s respected. ✅ Celebrate small wins to rebuild energy. Remember: Burnout isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, polite, and slowly eating away at your team. 🔁 Repost this with others Follow James Kamanski for more

HR is constantly changing. New challenges and opportunities will come our way. Each demanding a high level of agility and adaptability. The catch– If we're burnt out, we won't be able to navigate these challenges effectively. Our well-being is at stake here. It's crucial to recognize burnout, break the stigma around it, and establish a safe space for open conversations about the pressures we're dealing with. Here are a few of the warning signs: 1) Persistent Exhaustion: Feeling constantly tired, both physically and emotionally, can be a sign of burnout. If you find yourself unable to recharge even after taking breaks, it's essential to address this fatigue. 2) Reduced Performance: Burnout can impact your work performance. If you notice a decline in your ability to concentrate, make decisions, or accomplish tasks efficiently, it may be a red flag. 3) Increased Cynicism: A negative shift in your attitude toward work or colleagues, coupled with a sense of detachment, might indicate burnout. If you find yourself becoming cynical or disengaged, it's time to take a closer look. 4) Physical Symptoms: Burnout can manifest physically. Pay attention to symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or increased susceptibility to illness. These can be indicators of stress affecting your overall well-being. 5) Withdrawal from Responsibilities: If you find yourself withdrawing from work or personal responsibilities, it may be a coping mechanism for burnout. Avoiding tasks or social interactions can be a signal that you're overwhelmed. … Recognizing these warning signs is the first step toward preventing burnout. It's important to prioritize self-care, seek support, and foster a workplace culture that values well-being. A healthy and resilient HR team is better equipped to tackle the evolving landscape of challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I want to hear from YOU! How do you personally navigate the changing demands while avoiding burnout?

Warning: This is a well-worn pathway to burnout! While most would say they wouldn't travel on a pathway to burnout, if choices are left unchecked, that is the exact pathway we may find ourselves traveling. Those who have experienced burnout would tell you that they thought they were on their way to Success or Achievement just around the corner. But the corners have a way of distorting time, distance, and vision. Leaders are prone to this pathway because they are Achievers and Visionaries with success around the bend. But again, if left unchecked by an outside partner, we can all find ourselves on the pathway to burnout because it is a well-traveled and "excepted" pathway in many organizations. One paved with: Good intentions Hard work Determination These are all admirable qualities, but if left unchecked can be devastating to the organization you lead and Your mental health. In a recent LinkedIn Poll that asked, "What leads to burnout?" Lack of Boundaries Lack of Self-Care Lack of Work-Life Balance 70% said all of the above. I have been doing some research over the past several months, and one conversation with an HR leader has stuck with me and changed my approach to talking about burnout. She said, "I have NO work-life balance, but I'm not burnt out." I then wondered how long she could sustain her hectic life of constant multi-tasking at work and home before she reached her tipping point; the floodgates opened due to a relationship issue or health condition. We each have our "Tipping Points" in life and work when it gets to be TOO Much, and SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE. Here are the Warning Flags you might experience on the pathway to burnout. 🚩 No work-life balance 🚩 People Pleasing 🚩 Lack of Boundaries 🚩 Emotional Exhaustion 🚩 Lack of Self-Care 🚩Unable to satisfy the need for achievement 🚩 Heightened anxiety or depression 🚩 Feeling like you have Nothing left to give While burnout looks different for everyone from my interviews, several steps on this pathway led to most feeling burnt out. The Good News is that we can make the adjustments necessary to get off the pathway of burnout. Here are some questions to consider: 1. What would my organization do if I was not available for an extended period? This is what it would cost you or your organization. And also consider the costs for your family. 2. What boundaries do I need in place to protect my time? 3. How can I create a sustainable work-life balance? "Whenever you say "yes" to anything, there is less of you for something else. Make sure your 'Yes' is worth the Less." ~Louie Giglio If 3 or more flags resonated with you, it's time to make adjustments before it's too late. Have you reached your "tipping point" and need a partner to come alongside and spark some possibilities? I'm here for You and only a DM away! Which flag resonates with you most? Share with us what helps you to avoid burnout. #burnoutprevention #leadership #wellness #hr

Toxic Tech Workplaces Lead to Burnout - Here are the Warning Signs My last post discussed common signs of a toxic tech workplace. Prolonged exposure to unhealthy work environments can lead to burnout, especially for women in tech.  Look out for these emotional, mental, and physical warning signs of burnout: - Lacking energy and dread about work   - Increased cynicism, and negativity about duties - Feeling ineffective and like accomplishments are pointless    - Impaired concentration and forgetfulness - Interpersonal conflict and isolation - Frequent illnesses, headaches, stomach issues Ignoring these warnings can result in your health and career suffering. Don't think you just need to power through burnout - get the support you need. In my next post, I'll offer tips for overcoming toxicity and burnout.