Recognizing Burnout Signs in Colleagues

Burnout impacts more than half the workforce. Can you spot the signs? We often think burnout looks extreme, like a medical crisis, but it’s often much quieter. For years, I thought I was just busy - working nonstop, telling myself, “just one more thing.” But then I stopped going to the gym, stopped exploring nature, and felt disconnected from my kids. That’s when I realised it wasn’t just tiredness - it was burnout. Years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was one of the toughest periods of my life, and I believe that pushing myself so hard for so long played a role. Now, I remind myself that sometimes you need to slow down to speed up. Burnout doesn’t just affect your work - it affects your life and your health in ways you don’t always see. It can show up in hidden ways, like: ↳ Irritability with loved ones or colleagues ↳ Trouble focusing or constant forgetfulness ↳ Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue If this resonates, here are 5 actionable steps to take back control: 1/ Prioritise your self-care ↳ Move your body, eat nourishing foods, and focus on sleep 2/ Set boundaries ↳ Turn off work notifications after hours and say "no" when you need to 3/ Take intentional breaks ↳ Schedule time to reset - whether it’s a 10-minute walk or a full day off 4/ Delegate and focus ↳ Let go of what doesn’t need your attention. Use tools to work smarter, not harder 5/ Seek support ↳ Talk to someone you trust - a friend, coach, or professional - before it feels overwhelming Burnout isn’t a weakness. It’s your body asking for a change. Take it from me - it’s okay to pause, reset, and start putting yourself first again. 👇 How do you recharge? Let me know in the comments. ♻ Share this with someone who might need it. 🔔 Follow me, Jen Blandos, for daily insights on business, entrepreneurship, and workplace well-being.

We glamourised burnout and called it ambition. Now we're paying the price. Somewhere along the way, we accepted that toxic patterns were just "how work works." But these aren't normal workplace challenges. They're warning signs that too many people ignore. 17 red flags at work that no one talks about: 1. Important decisions get made without team input ↳ You find out major changes through office gossip 2. Your job description changes but your pay doesn't ↳ Extra duties appear without extra compensation 3. You get asked why you need specific days off ↳ Taking holiday feels like asking for a personal favour 4. Training budgets get cut first ↳ Your development gets shelved while consultants get hired 5. Feedback only comes during annual reviews ↳ You're left guessing how you're doing for 11 months straight 6. "We're like family" gets used to justify overtime ↳ Guilt trips replace proper staffing levels 7. Success stories only feature senior leaders ↳ Your hard work gets rewritten as their vision 8. Office politics determine promotions ↳ The best networker gets ahead, not the best performer 9. You're expected to respond to emails after hours ↳ Your phone buzzing at 9pm becomes the new normal 10. One-to-ones get cancelled repeatedly ↳ Your manager's calendar has no time for you 11. Your manager takes credit for your ideas ↳ Your breakthrough becomes their brilliant leadership moment 12. Mistakes get blamed on individuals, not processes ↳ Someone always becomes the fall guy when things go wrong 13. People leave meetings more confused than before ↳ Everyone nods along but nobody knows what they're supposed to do 14. Sick days require detailed explanations ↳ Calling in ill becomes an interrogation session 15. Lunch breaks get treated as optional work time ↳ Eating at your desk becomes the unspoken expectation 16. You're made to feel bad for leaving exactly on time ↳ Dirty looks when you pack up at 5pm become routine 17. Company values only exist on office posters ↳ Beautiful mission statements that nobody actually follows Having worked across different environments, I've seen how much workplace culture shapes everything. Your wellbeing matters more than any job title or paycheck. Trust yourself when something doesn't feel right. Which of these do you see most often? Let me know in the comments. ♻️ Repost to help someone recognise the warning signs  👉 Follow Lauren Murrell for more like this

Do you feel unmotivated to take action of any kind? Do you no longer find joy in hobbies or spending time with loved ones? These could be symptoms of burnout, indicating you may be overworking and feeling mentally and physically drained. According to research by Deloitte: 77% of professionals experience burnout in their current jobs. As alarming as this statistic is, the real issue lies in the fact that many of us don't even recognize the signs until it's far too late. Throughout my career, I can recall several instances where in hindsight I experienced burnout. While from the outside I was succeeding in my career, on the inside I was struggling with my mindset, feelings and relationships. I was fortunate to have a strong support network (both professional and personal) that supported me through these struggles. This personal experience made me realize the importance of normalizing speaking about this topic and educating myself and others on prevention and management strategies. To get some practical insights and tips on this topic, I reached out to my friend Dora Vanourek. Dora is a Burnout Coach for Tech Professionals, a LinkedIn Top Voice on Resiliency, and a Senior Consulting Services leader at IBM. Here are 5 invaluable tips she shared on preventing and managing burnout: 1. Recognize Early Signs of Burnout: Burnout does not happen overnight - instead, it slowly creeps in. Watch out for early signs such as exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, disrupted sleep, changes in eating habits, disconnect from social life, reduced motivation and self-care, physical ailments, and reduced performance. 2. Understand and Address Root Causes: Long hours might seem to cause burnout, but they're often just a symptom of deeper issues. Common root causes include feeling undervalued, working in a toxic team environment, lack of autonomy in how you work, perceived unfairness, and a mismatch between job requirements and your values. Addressing these core issues is essential. 3. Engage in Activities: Find an activity that energizes you and helps you disconnect from your work. Aim for at least 15 minutes on most days. Anything you enjoy will be beneficial: walk, exercise, creative hobbies, dancing to favorite songs, gardening, meditation, etc. 4. Incorporate Meaningful Tasks in Your Work: All jobs have less enjoyable tasks. Research shows that you are less likely to burn out if at least 20% of your work is meaningful. An example is mentoring or coaching someone, developing new ideas or developing a training course for others. Everyone finds meaning in different tasks - reflect and find yours. 5. Ask for help: You are never alone. Reach out to a friend or professional. Your company might have employee assistance programs, or point you to available help in your country. Looking for additional insights on the topic? Follow Dora here on LinkedIn. She posts daily on the topics of  burnout, careers, mindset, coaching, and leadership.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭. You’re home, but still thinking. Replaying conversations. Second-guessing small decisions. Feeling tired… without doing anything physical. Even silence feels noisy. And you start wondering “Is something wrong with me?” It isn’t. A lot of people are feeling this. Most professionals today show signs of burnout. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝. The kind where stress doesn’t leave when the laptop shuts. Because the mind stays switched on. Especially mid-career. By this stage, you’re carrying more than tasks. - You’re carrying decisions. - People’s expectations. - Unsaid responsibilities. The need to always be available — even mentally. The real exhaustion isn’t the hours. It’s thinking about work all the time. Planning. Anticipating. Running scenarios in your head. That invisible effort slowly eats away at clarity. At focus. At your ability to actually rest. Most advice says: “Log off earlier.” “Do meditation.” Helpful, yes. But not enough. What really helps is something simpler. - Learning how to switch off internally. - Not being “on” when nothing is required. - Reducing the tiny decisions that drain energy. Giving your mind short pauses — without adding more to your to-do list. Less mental friction. Not just fewer hours. This isn’t about feeling good. It’s about thinking better. When mental load reduces, leaders think clearer. Decisions improve. Presence increases. Work feels lighter — even when responsibility stays the same. So try this tonight. Before you end the day, write down one work thought you don’t want to carry. Just one. Put it on paper. Then close the laptop. Notice what your body feels like after. If it helps, repeat it for a few days. I’m genuinely curious —what’s the one thought that keeps following you home most days? To your success, Coach Vandana Dubey 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝐸𝑛𝑟𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑠 #MentalLoad #WorklifeBalance #MidCareer

Yesterday, I came across a post about someone losing a young colleague to a heart attack. I don’t know the specifics of that case, but every time I see something like this… my mind goes straight to burnout. Not the “I’m tired” kind. The silent, dangerous kind that slowly takes over your body, your mind, and your life. Burnout is a physical and emotional response to extreme exhaustion. And the scariest part is how quietly it creeps in. 🍊Warning signs to never ignore: → Persistent exhaustion: Waking up tired even after 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Your body feels heavy, and simple tasks feel like a burden. → Unexplained physical symptoms: Frequent headaches, tight shoulders, gut issues, or back pain that seem to come out of nowhere. Your body often shows burnout before your mind accepts it. → Short fuse or emotional sensitivity: You get irritated easily, snap at small things, or feel on the verge of tears without a clear reason. → Loss of interest: Activities that once energized you now feel like “tasks.” You stop looking forward to weekends, hobbies, or even time with loved ones. → Sleep disruptions: Difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or getting rest that doesn’t feel refreshing. → Emotional numbness: You feel detached from your work, people, or even yourself. It’s like watching your own life from a distance. 🍊What burnout can turn into if ignored: → Clinical depression: Not just sadness, but a complete loss of energy and interest in life. → Heart issues: Elevated heart rate, blood pressure spikes, and long term damage from stress hormones constantly being triggered. → Chronic gut and digestive problems: Acid reflux, IBS-like symptoms, and appetite changes driven by stress. → Severe anxiety: Constant worrying, panic, and an inability to switch off your mind. → Cognitive decline: Trouble focusing, forgetfulness, slower thinking, and impaired decision making. 🍊What actually helps and makes a real difference: → Clear boundaries: Logging off on time, not checking emails late at night, and protecting your personal hours like they’re non-negotiable. → Saying “no” respectfully: Declining extra responsibilities you genuinely can’t handle and not apologising for prioritising your health. → Real breaks: Not eating lunch at your desk. Taking short walks. Stepping away from screens. Letting your mind breathe. → Prioritising rest: Good sleep hygiene, naps if needed, and understanding that rest is not laziness, it is recovery. → Seeking support: Talking to a therapist, coach, mentor, or even a trusted friend before things build up. → Choosing the right people: Spending time with those who remind you of your worth beyond your performance, productivity, or job title. Remember: you are replaceable at work, but irreplaceable at home.

Most people think burnout is just a feeling of exhaustion. But that hasn’t been my experience. In fact, I know I’m close to burnout when I feel more fired up than usual. I want to: ✅ Keep pushing through ✅ Take on even more projects ✅ Give it my all For years, I thought this was a sign of passion and commitment. But research shows that this drive to do more can actually be a stage of burnout. Burnout doesn’t happen all at once—it’s a slow progression through distinct stages: 1️⃣ Honeymoon Phase: You’re full of energy and enthusiasm, saying “yes” to everything. 2️⃣ Onset of Stress: You start feeling pressure—tight deadlines, demanding expectations—but you push through, thinking it’s normal. 3️⃣ Chronic Stress: The cracks appear—your energy dips, irritability increases, and productivity wanes. 4️⃣ Burnout: Exhaustion sets in—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Even small tasks feel overwhelming. 5️⃣ Habitual Burnout: Without intervention, burnout becomes part of your daily reality, leading to serious health and performance impacts. Many high-achievers mistake early burnout signs for a need to work harder or prove themselves. So how can you spot the difference between ambition and burnout? For me, the red flags are: ❌ Feeling irritable or short-tempered when things don’t go as planned. ❌ Waking up at night with racing thoughts about work. ❌ Losing joy in things I used to love, both inside and outside of work. As leaders, it’s critical to not only recognise these signs in ourselves but also in our teams. Burnout costs organisations millions in turnover, disengagement, and absenteeism—but it doesn’t have to. It starts with creating workplaces where: ✅ Employees feel supported, not overextended. ✅ Rest and recovery are prioritised alongside high performance. ✅ Boundaries are respected, and psychological safety is the norm. Have you experienced burnout? What were the early signs for you? #happieratwork #burnout #workplaceculture

I thought twice before writing this note as I didn’t want it to seem like I was seeking attention for my post. However, a few of my mentees and mentors reached out to me yesterday, asking me to share my thoughts about the unfortunate incident where the industry lost a budding talent due to “Burnout.”😔 As a father to a young daughter, I cannot imagine what the parents must be going through. I’m writing this post in hopes that you can identify and course-correct yourself if you find yourself in a similar situation. What I’m sharing comes from my personal experience and the many mentoring sessions I’ve had with mentees who were in similar situations. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked in several companies and under multiple global leadership teams. For the most part, I’ve been blessed with very supportive management who not only took care of me but also helped in times of need. Twice in my career, I came close to “Burnout” – once during my early career days and again in a leadership role. The biggest challenge during this phase is that “We don’t even know we’re going through burnout.” 🧠⚠️ I learned this the hard way. Here are some signs to watch out for: 1️⃣ Feeling lost: You may be physically present, but your mind is constantly somewhere else. My family noticed this before I did. 2️⃣ Significant drop in energy levels: I mistook this as part of ageing until my mentor reminded me I was only 43, not 63! 😅 3️⃣ Constant irritation: Even something as small as a doorbell could set me off. I started showing my frustration to my family, pushing away the people who cared the most. 😓 4️⃣ Sleep issues: I became an insomniac, going sleepless for over two months. Even when I did sleep, I dreamt about work. I’d wake up feeling like I had worked an extra shift! 😴💼 This is when my family intervened. 🙏 They made me detach for a couple of weeks. My manager supported me during this phase and ensured I wasn’t disturbed. It worked wonders. 🌟 Those two weeks gave me the pause and reset I needed. I reached out to my mentors, who, as always, stood by me like a rock. I spent time attending events, talking in AI podcasts, and realigning my priorities. By the time I returned to work, I had clarity. 💡 From a young age, we’re taught to chase the top spot: “Top Engineering College,” “Top B-School,” and “Dream Company.” But with experience, I can tell you there are multiple top spots to aim for. 🏆 Burnout happens when we worry too much about what others think of us. Don’t seek validation from others about how good you are. Believe in yourself. ✨ If you feel cornered, remember that you don’t have to stay there. My mentor made it clear to me with this one powerful sentence: “Vignesh, you can always choose to walk away. Your family needs you the most.” 💖👨👩👧 #MentalHealthMatters #BurnoutPrevention #WorkLifeBalance #SelfCare #Mentorship #Leadership #EmployeeWellbeing #MentalHealthAwareness #BelieveInYourself #FamilyFirst #PrioritizeYourHealth

Burnout isn’t a breakdown. It’s the price for ignored whispers. After working with 200+ organisations and thousands of leaders, I’ve seen the same truth: Burnout doesn’t crash overnight. It creeps in quietly, long before performance metrics show the damage. Leaders who miss the whispers end up firefighting the flames. Here are nine red flags that show burnout is brewing: 1/ Emotional flatline  → Excitement turns into indifference  → Wins are met with silence, not celebration  → Energy flattens across the board 2/ Decision paralysis  → Simple choices take longer  → Teams hesitate more than they act  → Confidence quietly erodes 3/ Learning Stops  → Curiosity disappears from conversations  → People stop asking “why” or “what if”  → Growth mindset gets replaced by survival mode 4/ Conversations shrink  → Messages become transactional  → Humor and casual chatter fade  → The “human” part of work goes missing 5/ Meetings Lose Engagement  → Cameras stay off, participation drops  → Fewer ideas are shared in group settings  → People attend but are mentally elsewhere 6/ Feedback Dries Up  → Peers stop giving honest input  → Safe spaces for dialogue shrink  → Psychological safety quietly breaks 7/ Voluntary Effort Disappears  → Extra-mile behavior vanishes  → Employees do only what is asked  → Discretionary effort hits zero 8/ Irritability Spikes  → Irritability increases in daily interactions  → Small issues trigger big reactions  → Friction becomes the new normal 9/ Pride in Work Fades  → Teams stop talking about impact  → Quality becomes “good enough”  → Ownership gives way to obligation Here’s the real insight: Burnout is not a people problem. It’s a system problem. Prevention is leadership. Cure is damage control. Leaders, your absolute power is in noticing the whispers before they become wildfires. Which of these 9 signs do you notice first in your team? Repost if you believe leaders must catch the whispers before they lose their teams and follow Subramanian Narayan.

Why Smart Performers Listen to the Whispers 🧠 In my work with executives and high-performers, I often see a concerning pattern: waiting until burnout forces a stop. A hard stop. The Performance Paradox suggests that if we only focus only on performing, our performance suffers. But here's what neuroscience tells us about cognitive performance: Your brain has a sophisticated early warning system: The Whisper Phase: • Occasional fatigue • Minor focus fluctuations • Slight energy dips • Mood or sleep changes The Warning Phase: • Significant cognitive fog • Emotional reactivity • Performance inconsistency • Persistent fatigue (physical and psychological) The Shutdown Phase: • Complete cognitive overwhelm • Executive function collapse • Forced recovery mode • Feeling 'blah' The most successful leaders I work with and witness aren't those who push through - they're the ones who master the art of strategic renewal. They optimise, prioritise and fiercely protect their recovery.  They listen to the whispers...before they become screams. 🎯 The Strategies: Create what I call "Prevention Protocols" - systematic check-ins before your brain demands them (or your body forces you to rest). It means living and working in harmony with your Human Operating System (hOS 🧠). It means taking the time to tune into what our bodies are communicating and signalling to us...because our bodies don't lie and they keep score. Because true high performance isn't about endurance - it's about sustainability. What's your early warning system telling you today? #NeuroPerformance #ExecutiveLeadership #DigitalWellbeing #WorkSmarter #BusinessSuccess #Leadership #CorporateWellness #PoweredUpPerformance #Burnout #Wellbeing

‎ ‎Career success means nothing if you're burnt out getting there. ‎ ‎After coaching hundreds of professionals, I've noticed these warning signs that your career is costing you too much: ‎ ‎> You dread Monday before the weekend even ends ‎> You're too exhausted to enjoy your free time ‎> Your relationships are suffering because of work stress ‎> You've lost interest in things you once loved ‎> You're constantly irritable or emotionally numb ‎> Your health is declining (sleep, eating habits, exercise) ‎ ‎High performance doesn't require sacrifice of everything else. ‎ ‎Sustainable success includes boundaries, rest, and fulfillment. ‎ ‎If you're seeing these signs, it's time to reassess. ‎ ‎Whether that means having tough conversations with your manager, delegating differently, or exploring a new opportunity entirely, your wellbeing matters. ‎ ‎Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself accordingly. ‎ ‎What's one boundary you need to set this week? ‎