Physical symptoms of burnout: how to recognize them!

Have you ever experienced burnout? Or do you know someone in the same situation? Then you know that burnout comes with many physical symptoms. It's much more common in today's society than we all realize.

Work pressure and work-life balance are often under pressure, which is why we're seeing this phenomenon more and more. It's therefore important to monitor your body to prevent burnout.

You can do this by reducing your daily stress and monitoring your body for any symptoms related to burnout. But what exactly are these symptoms?

If you're experiencing burnout or are on the verge of burnout, you'll feel extremely tired during the day. You'll probably feel like you've only gotten a few hours of sleep, even though you've actually gotten eight.

This form of fatigue goes even further than regular tiredness. It's a deep, chronic exhaustion that doesn't go away with a good night's sleep.

People with burnout often feel constantly exhausted, regardless of how much sleep or rest they get. This can lead to a serious decrease in productivity and the ability to perform daily tasks.

Two other physical complaints, often not directly associated with burnout, are headaches and muscle pain. Stress can lead to tense muscles, especially in the neck, shoulders, and back.

This muscle tension can result in constant pain and discomfort. Tension headaches and migraines can also occur. This is often exacerbated by the constant stress and exhaustion experienced during burnout.

As a result, the pain becomes progressively worse instead of going away with time.

Stress is always associated with gastrointestinal problems. It has a direct impact on the digestive system. Think of symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.

The physical complaints of stress can be a result of an increased production of stress hormones such as cortisol, which disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive system.

These problems can make eating and digesting food uncomfortable, which in turn can contribute to nutritional problems and weight changes.

People with burnout experience many problems sleeping. Sleep problems are one of the most common symptoms of burnout. You may have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.

It can also happen that you wake up too early in the morning and can't fall back asleep. Because you're not getting enough sleep, the fatigue will worsen.

You therefore have less concentration and focus, which further hinders your daily performance and negatively affects the time management of your day.

To get through your day well during burnout, it's important to plan everything well. So, check out Björn Deusings' time management tips.

Burnout also causes significant changes in appetite and weight. Some people lose their appetite and lose weight, while others seek comfort in food and gain weight.

These changes are the result of physical complaints and stress, which disrupt normal eating habits. Hormonal changes that occur with chronic stress can also contribute to fluctuations in weight and eating habits.

These food issues can also further undermine physical and mental health, exacerbating symptoms of burnout.

Burnout has several physical symptoms that you should monitor closely and not ignore. Try to recognize these signs and take immediate action to reduce your stress levels.

This can help you prevent long-term burnout. Pay attention to your physical and mental health and work on recovery and a healthy lifestyle.