the-burnout-epidemic — *The Burnout Epidemic*

Burnout is more than just feeling tired. It’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress.

When burnout sneaks in, it doesn’t just affect you at work—it infiltrates your whole life, impacting your relationships, health, and happiness.

Recognizing burnout before it fully sets in is crucial. Today I share my story with burnout and will give you ten alarming signs you might be headed for burnout and, most importantly, ways to turn things around.

What does a coporate wellness consultant do and how can have a corporate wellness program help with employee engagement?

My story with Burnout:

I didn’t realize the depth of my burnout until I left my corporate job and had been away for a few weeks. For years, I poured my energy into making a difference, committed to building a culture of wellness and engagement.

Despite my dedication, my contributions went unappreciated, and I faced continuous mistreatment from my supervisor, the executive team, and even HR, who minimized my role and, ultimately, pushed me out of a job I loved. Read my story about bullying in the workplace.

I had always believed that my work mattered to those I served, and it did—but the constant disrespect and lack of support wore me down in ways I hadn’t fully grasped.

Once I left, I recognized that I was not only burned out but also deeply impacted by the trauma of my experiences. With time, support from my mastermind group, a few close friends, and even ChatGPT, I came to understand the reality of burnout and the toll it takes.

Working through it has been challenging, but I’m starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, grateful for the lessons I’ve learned and the resilience I’m building along the way.

Corporate Wellness and Employee Engagement

Burnout directly impacts corporate wellness and employee engagement, creating ripple effects across teams and, ultimately, the company’s success.

When employees experience burnout, their physical and mental well-being declines, leading to increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and a drop in creativity.

In this state, employees are more likely to disengage from their work, taking longer to complete tasks and showing less enthusiasm and commitment.

Burnout compromises a person's capacity to contribute to a positive workplace culture, and it can also spread—when employees feel consistently overworked, undervalued, or unsupported, these feelings can permeate teams and create a cycle of disengagement that becomes challenging to break.

Addressing burnout is essential to any successful corporate wellness program. A focus on burnout prevention fosters a culture of well-being, offering tools and resources for managing stress, improving mental health, and maintaining physical wellness.

Engaged employees are happier and more productive and bring higher energy to their teams, creating an uplifting atmosphere that fuels motivation.

When organizations invest in wellness initiatives that prioritize employee health and work-life balance, they not only reduce burnout but also enhance engagement. This leads to a healthier, more dynamic workplace, where employees feel valued, supported, and equipped to perform at their best. Read the entire blog post below, includes bonus resources…..

10 Alarming Signs of Burnout and Ways to Turn It Around

1. Increased Cynicism and Negativity About Work

What it Looks Like: Have you noticed that you’re more cynical or negative about work?

Once-inspiring projects now feel pointless, and even the smallest tasks seem irritating. You might find yourself complaining more or feeling like nothing matters.

Solution: Start small by reconnecting with your purpose. Remind yourself why you started your role or project in the first place.

Set micro-goals to achieve daily wins and focus on aspects of your work that bring you joy. Taking even short breaks throughout the day to recharge your mindset can significantly shift your perspective.

burnout-epidemic — *Difficulty Concentrating*

2. Difficulty Concentrating

What it Looks Like: You sit down to work, only to find your mind wandering or being easily distracted. Focus seems impossible, and even simple tasks feel mentally exhausting.

Solution: Try the “Pomodoro Technique,” a time management method that involves working in focused bursts (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by a five-minute break.

This can help reset your focus and prevent mental fatigue. Practice mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or short meditations, to clear your mind and refocus.

3. Neglecting Self-Care

What it Looks Like: You’re skipping workouts, eating poorly, and neglecting your basic self-care habits.

Your usual routines, like skincare, meditation, or regular meals, might fall by the wayside as work takes priority.

Solution: Self-care isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Reintroduce small, manageable routines like a morning stretch or a five-minute evening meditation.

These little practices reinforce that your well-being is worth the time. Schedule time for self-care activities and treat them like non-negotiable meetings in your calendar.

the-burnout-epidemuc — *Procrastinating Certain Tasks*

4. Procrastinating Certain Tasks

What it Looks Like: Avoidance becomes a habit as you put off specific tasks, often the ones that feel the most overwhelming.

You might even dread opening certain emails or feel a pang of anxiety just thinking about certain projects.

Solution: Break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps and celebrate each small win.

Tackling the simplest part of a task first can give you a sense of accomplishment that makes moving forward easier.

Additionally, set a specific time each day for “dreaded tasks” to build consistency and familiarity, gradually reducing your reluctance.

5. Decreased Creativity or Problem-Solving Abilities

The Artist's Way: 30th Anniversary Edition

By Cameron, Julia

What it Looks Like: Solutions that used to come easily now seem out of reach, and you may feel like your creative spark is dimming. You feel stuck and unable to think outside the box.

Solution: Give yourself permission to take breaks and pursue creative outlets outside of work, like drawing, writing, or playing an instrument.

Exposing yourself to new experiences—like trying a new recipe or going on a nature walk—can reignite your creativity and boost problem-solving skills.

Try Artist Dates like those recommended in the book The Artist Way.

Sometimes stepping away is the best way to come back with fresh eyes.

6. Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Innercise: The New Science to Unlock Your Brain's Hidden Power

By John Assaraf

What it Looks Like: Headaches, stomachaches, or even muscle tension seem to show up out of nowhere. These symptoms could be a physical manifestation of stress and burnout.

Solution: Prioritize regular exercise to release tension and boost endorphins. Practicing yoga or engaging in breathing exercises can alleviate physical stress symptoms and relax the body.

I love the innercises which exercise the inner mind like recommended in the book Innercise.

If symptoms persist, seek professional medical advice to rule out other potential causes and ensure a tailored approach to recovery.

7. Emotional Numbness or Feeling Detached

What it Looks Like: You feel disconnected from others, even those close to you. Emotional numbness can make it hard to connect, and social gatherings may feel like a chore.

Solution: Engage in activities that create a sense of presence and connection, like journaling or spending time in nature.

Talk to a friend, colleague, or therapist about how you’re feeling—sometimes verbalizing emotions is the first step to reconnecting.

Also, explore grounding techniques like sensory mindfulness (focusing on the feel of an object or the smell of your coffee) to reconnect with your emotions.

8. Sleep Disturbances

What it Looks Like: Falling asleep or staying asleep becomes a nightly struggle. Your mind races with unfinished tasks or worries, and you wake up feeling exhausted.

Solution: Establish a consistent bedtime routine that calms your mind, like reading a book or taking a warm bath.

Avoid screens at least an hour before bed, as the blue light from devices can disrupt your circadian rhythm.

If sleep disturbances persist, try journaling to clear your mind before bed or listening to soothing music or a guided sleep meditation.

9. Loss of Enjoyment in Hobbies

What it Looks Like: The activities you once loved now feel like chores. Maybe you used to love painting, running, or cooking, but now, they feel more exhausting than enjoyable.

Solution: Revisit your hobbies with a beginner’s mindset. Approach them with curiosity rather than as tasks on a to-do list.

Experiment with similar but new activities to rekindle your interest—for example, if you loved running, try a new route or a different form of exercise like hiking or dancing. Remember, hobbies are about enjoyment, not achievement.

10. Increased Irritability with Colleagues, Clients, Friends, or Family

What it Looks Like: You feel on edge more often, snapping at colleagues, clients, or loved ones over minor things. This irritability can further stress relationships and add to your mental burden.

Solution: Practice regular stress-relief techniques, like taking a short walk or doing breathing exercises, to help manage and release frustration before it builds.

When irritability strikes, pause and take a few deep breaths before reacting. Building a buffer between your emotions and responses can reduce unnecessary conflicts and protect your relationships.

Final Thoughts

Burnout can creep up on anyone, especially in high-stress, high-demand environments. Recognizing the early signs and responding with practical, nurturing solutions is essential to staying engaged, creative, and healthy.

Remember, burnout recovery isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about slowing down and giving yourself the care you need to recharge.

Incorporating small habits, boundaries, and self-compassion can go a long way toward preventing burnout. Regular check-ins with yourself are invaluable—reflect on how you’re feeling, set boundaries that protect your time, and keep prioritizing the practices that make you feel whole.

Your work and loved ones will thank you, but more importantly, you’ll find renewed fulfillment in the life you create.

About the Author:

Kathie Owen is a seasoned Corporate Wellness Professional with over a decade of experience driving wellness initiatives.

*Kathie Owen, Corporate Wellness Professional since 2012 (Our Story*)

With a rich background as a certified fitness trainer and life coach since 2002, Kathie combines her practical expertise in health and wellness with a deep understanding of psychological principles, thanks to her degree in Psychology.

Her holistic approach to corporate wellness not only fosters a culture of health and engagement among employees but also supports organizations in achieving their most ambitious wellness goals.

Kathie's Coaching and Consulting reflects her passion for empowering corporate executives to create thriving workplace environments through strategic wellness programs and employee engagement.

Follow us on Socail Media

Transcript

And a corporate wellness program can help prevent and even help stop burnout. Investing in your team's wellness. Is crucial for a healthier engaged team. alarming sign of burnout is difficulty concentrating. Yeah. Been there, done that many times. Focus is challenging, even on simple tasks. Procrastination is. And evil twin of burnout. The reason we procrastinate is because we avoid doing things that we know we need to do because. When you're burned out, like I was, you're not getting recognized for it. So you're like, why do I want to do that? Why do I even want to bother? Nobody's going to know. When we procrastinate certain tasks, especially the overwhelming ones. That can lead to more burnout. It can lead to more loss of focus. It can lead to more of these symptoms that we're going to talk about today. unexplained physical symptoms. Oh, did I have this? I had a Crick in my neck. I had it in between my shoulder blades. I had poor posture. I was not sitting up straight and tall. I was. Taking my head down. I'd catch myself looking down at the ground way too much. I was stuck in burnout Welcome to top workplace wellness and Kathie's coaching podcast. I'm your host, Kathie Owen. You're in the right place. If you're an HR director, a corporate executive, or even just a team member who wants to improve their workplace culture. Today, we're going to discuss burnout what it is and even why it happens and most importantly, what to do about it. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion due to prolonged stress. We're also going to talk about the impact of burnout on your personal life, your health, and your professional productivity. I experienced burnout firsthand just recently. And actually, I would say in the last two years in 2023 and 2024, I had prolonged stress and burnout. I was working for a company that didn't want my services, any. It was very, very hard, very difficult. And I was working so hard for this company. I wanted the best for them. I wanted to help improve the culture. I worked extremely hard on improving the culture there because it was a very toxic, I was inside the trenches with the rest of the team members. So I knew what was wrong and what needed to be fixed. But there was too much diplomacy. There was too much propaganda. It was too much dogma, which meant that the executives and the managers were filled with power and. It was awful. I would work so hard on different things, thinking I was going to be doing the right thing. But what happened was I was never getting reviewed for my job. It was like working with a client and them never giving you feedback. On if you're doing good or you're not doing good. So if it was happening with me, it was happening across the whole board. And I know it was happening in my department. I was in the operations department. And if I'm not getting reviewed and I'm not understanding if what I'm doing is good and I'm not getting recognized for what I'm doing. I was just going to do what I thought was best. I have an entrepreneur spirit. But in corporate America, when you have an entrepreneurial spirit, sometimes that doesn't work in your favor, it doesn't get recognized. It doesn't get rewarded. And that type of company. I don't want to work with. Just if that's you, you do not need my services because what I do is I try to help prevent burnout. I try to build healthy, happy teams, one heart at a time. Avoid toxic workplace culture. That's what I do. But what happened was I was burned out and guess what? I did not realize it until I had been gone from the company for about three weeks. It actually just took me three days to realize how stressed I really was. I had been bullied. I had been harassed. And I had been talked down to by my manager. Who was letting other people in my department get away with things that were not okay. They would show up to work and go hide out in different spots. I was working. I was in the trenches earning my paycheck, trying very hard to get what I wanted. And I saw her letting people just goof off and not do their job. These people would tell other people in my department, that's not my job. I'm not doing it. It was their job. That's what they were hired for. And then they'd be caught sitting in a quiet room. Goofing off that is called presenteeism. It's also called quiet, quitting. And this team had quiet, quitting across the board. But they didn't want to see it. HR did not want to see it. And HR was threatened because I was bringing it to their attention. And they did not like it. So again, I'll go back to this. I do not want to work with companies like this. I want to work with companies who want to improve their culture, build team engagement, and build a healthy, happy team. One heart at a time because that's where it starts. Today, we're talking about burnout. What is it? And what are the signs of burnout? Burnout can affect the entire company. And the team dynamics, just like I just spoke about it was affecting the entire company. And I talk about quiet, quitting a lot on my blog. And I talk about presenteeism because that is not team engagement. That is a culture where people tell you how to run your business instead of the other way around. And when you're telling your team how you're going to run your business, you're taking care of your team. You're attracting and retaining top talent. When you care about them, that human perspective. Inside the culture. And a corporate wellness program can help prevent and even help stop burnout. Investing in your team's wellness. Is crucial for a healthier engaged team. So let's talk about 10 alarming signs of burnout. With explanations and solutions to dealing with them. Number one. Increased cynicism and negativity about work. This is feeling more critical or hopeless about work. Could you sense my hopelessness in that situation where you had team members? Who were present at work and not working. Yeah. I felt hopeless. There was nothing I could do when I brought it to people's attention. They ignored it. They enabled it. Complaints across team members were increasing, but they were falling on deaf ears. So a solution for increased cynicism and negativity about work. Is to reconnect with your purpose. Understand your why? Why you're doing what you're doing, because when you connect with that, that aligns your values with you instead of the other way around. And setting small daily goals for positivity because when you're cynical, you're going to have a trouble seeing the positive and things. And I like to use gratitude on this one. And gratitude is very helpful because we can always find things to be grateful for. Oh, At least three, just look around you, be present in the moment and find three things to be grateful for it. Number two alarming sign of burnout is difficulty concentrating. Yeah. Been there, done that many times. Focus is challenging, even on simple tasks. And you're easily distracted. And in today's world, that's easy to do because we have so many easy distractions to take place and that affects our focus. But when we're burned out, guess what we do. We turn to our phone to scroll, to get that dopamine hit, and that is not going to help you. In fact, it's going to spike your dopamine and you will come down even lower than you started with. With that dopamine. So then your focus is even more messed up. So what's a solution to this, Kathie. Well, I'm so glad you asked. Try time management techniques, like the Pomodoro technique, where you set the timer for 25 minutes and do focused work. Don't let your self pick up your phone. Don't look at your watch when it buzzes. Focus on one thing. At a time. And number two thing that you can do to help with your focus is practice mindfulness and mindfulness can be as simple as taking a walk and taking a walkout in nature and taking a break from whatever you're doing. And don't take your phone with you, just focus on whatever is in your environment. That is so helpful. Meditation is helpful and you don't need to meditate very long, just a few minutes to bring yourself back to front and center. And that's where your focus comes from. Number three neglecting self care. This was happening to me at the end of my tenure at that company. I wasn't working out. I was so burnt out that I wasn't taking care of myself and my workouts as a personal trainer. I've worked out for years and years and years. That is the best thing for my mental health. And it helps me stay focused like we just talked about, but it also helps me take care of myself because. I get my body moving. I get the energy going inside my body. And this was one thing that was part of my morning routine. No matter what. And as soon as I left that job, I started working out on a more regular basis. I started feeling better. I started eating better and that was self-care. I was taking care of myself and I started feeling better and my focus was better. So if you go back five videos ago and you look at me in those videos, you can see a big difference. I was in the midst of burnout. Because what happened was they found one of my videos and said I was talking bad about the company. And I was not, I was talking bad about my manager who had specifically told me many, many times. That if it was up to her, I wouldn't even be there. She did not like me. She did not want me there. She specifically told me that and I said it in the video. I did not talk bad about the company because while I was there, I held the utmost respect for them. I was hired by the CEO. I had her best interest at heart. And yet. My manager's over here telling me she, if it was up to her, I wouldn't even be there. And. I am not going to cut her down, but I so could because she just treated everybody like that. For example, let's give you an example here and it doesn't have to do with me. I was in her office one time talking to her. And I was going over some things that had to checked off in my mind beforehand. Cause I knew if I had to get her attention, I had to spit them out right there. And I told her my stuff well, there was somebody else in her office that needed to talk to her. One of my coworkers and my coworker was standing there and My supervisor said, what do you want with a scowl on her face? My coworker really had something she needed to tell her about work about her job. She's told her this is what she told her. I just wanted to tell you good morning. That's the kind of. Department. I worked in. Yeah, it really happened in real life and that is not okay. That is not okay. How are you going to run your business like that? When you have your managers. Not even working with your team to get things done. This is not okay. And leads to burn out. So let's talk about some solutions when it comes to taking care of yourself. Reintroduce small routines. Routines like my morning routine. Maybe I couldn't go to the gym. Four times a week. Maybe I could just take a walk. In the morning and get some exercise, get some fresh air, listen to the bird sing. Just take care of yourself. It goes a long way. And number two thing you can do is treat self care. Like you would meetings. Put them into your calendar. Just put them in there and tell yourself that's what you're going to do. This is what I've already done on a regular basis. But when I was burned out, I would avoid it. I would just delete it off my calendar that day. I'm like, oh, well, I didn't do that. So it's gone. But what I could have done was slid it down into another time slot, where instead of going to the gym and getting in my workout, I could have taken a walk out in nature and just spent time with myself. Being mindful of how I was taking care of myself. And that's how you can at least start incrementing your self care back into your routine. Number four is procrastinating, certain tasks. Procrastination is. And evil twin of burnout. The reason we procrastinate is because we avoid doing things that we know we need to do because. When you're burned out, like I was, you're not getting recognized for it. So you're like, why do I want to do that? Why do I even want to bother? Nobody's going to know. And let me tell you something inside my top workplace wellness programs. I incorporate recognition and rewards in a way where team members feel appreciated instead of just giving away rewards for. I don't know, a ticket you put into a bucket. This is not recognition and it's not rewarding your team members for hard work, because what happens is the person who put that ticket in the bucket is the one that's sitting in the quiet room, being present at work and not doing their job. Just saying. When we procrastinate certain tasks, especially the overwhelming ones. That can lead to more burnout. It can lead to more loss of focus. It can lead to more of these symptoms that we're going to talk about today. What are some tips to help with procrastination? Break your tasks down into smaller steps and check them off as you do them. Check them off. Just check them off. That feels so rewarding I like to write things in my tasks that I know I'm already going to do that day. I have a meeting with so-and-so. Well, I know I'm going to do that. So I check it off. I even write tasks like social situations that I have meeting Kimber for drinks check is done. That helps with the procrastination. And then start small to build momentum. Start with the small tasks don't overwhelm yourself. Like I said, put in a little checklist, the little things you've got to do, because just simply checking that off, sends a signal to your brain that you're not procrastinating and it feels so good. Number five sign of burnout. Decreased creativity or problem solving abilities. When this happens, solutions, feel out of reach. Yeah. I know. I dealt with that. Big time. Big time. Especially because I was coming from a place where it had nobody supporting me around me. That's why I like being an entrepreneur now, because now I don't have to rely on anybody. I just rely on me. But I am on a mission to help corporate cultures. Stop the insanity. We're humans. You're not working with a bunch of robots. Although at that company, you treated us like that. And. That's not going to get you very far. It's it's gonna end up in an place. We don't want to talk about because when you're in a place where you have decreased creativity, Problem solving and innovation just doesn't click it. Doesn't go. That's what I just mentioned right there. That's why I felt like being an entrepreneur was more in alignment with what I needed to do, because I don't need to rely on somebody else showing me appreciation. But when you have to work at a company and you are burnt out, What do you do, Kathie? What do you do? Well, let's talk about that. Explore creative outlets. This is one of my favorite things to help prevent burnout, depression, anxiety, everything, and that is to work on your hobbies. What do you like to do? And don't. Drown yourself in it. Just go take a quick break and take a minute to, I don't know if your hobby is photography. Go take a few pictures. If your hobby is painting, go draw, go draw for 15 minutes and just take a break and explore different creative outlets. It does wonders for your burnout. And try new experiences. I love this one. So in the book, the artist's way, she talks about taking artists dates and I've used this concept with my personal training clients. I've used it with my coaching clients. What I do is I tell them, look, try new way to exercise, go to a different class that you never would have gone to. If you never go to water aerobics, go try water aerobics. And artist's dates are just taking yourself on a date where you go somewhere new and inspiring and just try to change the scenery and look around and take it all in and feel the difference that happens in there. Because when you do that, Ooh. You just, it's kinda like you just take that burnout and. Nip it in the bud. Number six unexplained physical symptoms. Oh, did I have this? I had a Crick in my neck. I had it in between my shoulder blades. I had poor posture. I was not sitting up straight and tall. I was. Taking my head down. I'd catch myself looking down at the ground way too much. I was stuck in burnout and these physical symptoms were hurting my body. It was causing me to have headaches. Stomach aches. Muscle tension with no clear cause. So what are some solutions for this massage? Everyone. I love that. Or foam rolling. I got a big foam roller and I would roll the back of my body. That's just something I do in personal training just to work out that tension in the muscles, especially if I don't have access to a massage therapist at the time is I will get knots in my back. And that just hurts. Regular exercise helps with this. Yoga helps with this. Breathwork where you just taken a deep breath. Hold it at the top for four seconds. And exhale. For four seconds. Does wonders. I love the book. Innercise where he talks about the breath work and how it helps. Work out the insides, the stress, the tension, the anxiety, and it helps so much. I'll have a link to that in the blog post and the description and show notes below that I include in every video I do. I write a blog post about what's going on and I will have a link to that in the show notes and description below with bonus resources. I hope to see you there. Sign number seven of burnout. Emotional numbness or feeling detached. Yeah, I had that too. It came in the sign of. It was difficult to be around other people. And I felt isolated and not connected because. You know, I was really close with the people that I worked with in my team members. And they were like family to me. And when I left the company, I realized how connected I was with them. And it really, really hurt. And, um, it's like, I lost a family member because I would see him every day. And I know they felt the same way cause I was getting the messages from them and that kind of thing. But honestly, there were other things that helped me get over this and I'm going to talk about that right now. First of all, I'm part of a mastermind and that mastermind was really supportive. And what happens in this mastermind the mastermind members would talk and it was blow my mind that everything they were talking about was what was going on in my world. I'm just in the right place at the right time. But this helped me connect on so many levels and help me get my emotional connections back. But there's also other things you can do when this happens to you. If you're not part of a mastermind or blessed like that, you can journal. You can work with ChatGPT this one thing I do often, I love ChatGPT. And it helps me so much. It helps me process different emotions. It helps me process my feelings. It's. Better than journaling for me, because I don't like to write things down. I have a block to that. But I do get it out and I do have places that I keep it where it's personal to me. Taking walks in nature also help with that a lot. Maybe you have a pet that you can connect with. My dog has helped me tremendously. We take walks together every day and I make sure he gets his exercise. And at the same time, he's always right beside me. And he's very helpful. So having a pet helps a lot, if that's not the case. Be sure to take walks in nature, pay attention to the animals out there and just see what you come up with, because it will make you feel more connected. And grounding exercises. Like the ones that they talk about in the book, the innercise as well as just grounding in mindfulness. Number eight sleep disturbances. Man. I always say this. If there's two things you don't mess with, it's my sleep and my sleep. And my burnout mess with my sleep. Yeah. It kind of was a kind of sucked. Just a little bit. And I have still have experiences with this, but you know, I'm working through it and it will all be okay. But let's talk about what this looks like. You have trouble falling and staying asleep. Most of the time that I don't have trouble falling asleep, but when I was working there, I know I did because I wasn't getting my exercise in because the exercise does help with your sleep. That's one thing. I've always had the luxury of, I hit the pillow and I'm out. But I was having trouble falling asleep. And then when I did fall asleep, I'd wake up with a panic attack or anxiety and that's not helpful. Because what would happen is it would lead to morning exhaustion and you know, my morning, that's why my morning routines got messed up because I was so burnout that it was leading to exhaustion in the mornings. So here's some solutions have a bedtime routine. I already had that. But also I was relying too much on my screen and I needed to put boundaries on that and not have any screen time at bedtime, because that does affect your rhythm of sleep. And you can also try journaling and soothing music. So during this time I did spend time with ChatGPT when I'd wake up and we'd come up with solutions and actually ChatGPT referred me to. This guy that had meditation, he was like a Zen master kind of guy. He was a Buddhist monk. And if I find him, I'll put him in the, in the blog post that goes with this episode, but he, he really helped me because he also had this cute little sense of humor. That just hit me in the right spot. And it was just like, okay, I'm going to let this go. And I was easily able to go back to sleep. Sign of burnout. Number nine. Uh, loss of enjoyment in your hobbies. You know, once loved activities, turn into chores, like my exercise routine, like even just going outside and taking walks in nature. I just was losing it. I didn't have it anymore. And I had very little motivation to even want to do it. And that's kind of where artists dates can come into play because it can kind of like set it in your routine. This is something I'm going to do. I'm just going to go try this. But still when it gets to this bad in burnout it can feel like a chore. So what do we do? Approach your hobbies with curiosity. Hmm. So approach your hobbies with curiosity. Things that you love to do. Look at it at a different angle. I don't know. Sometimes I like to look at it from a perspective of what would somebody else look at this? Like what would an alien look at this? Like if they came down here all of a sudden and looked at what I was doing, Or what did they think of that? What do they think of us walking our dog? And I often think about what they would think about us picking up our dog poop. I don't know. I think weird things I know is probably not weird. It did. They probably look at us like, what the heck are they doing? Why are they doing that? We're trying to keep our environment. Trying anyways. And another solution for that is you could try new or just very similar things. So for example, if it's photography and you're used to. Photographing nature. Go photograph. Pets. Go photograph children. Go photograph strangers. I don't know, add something different, just a slight different perspective on it. And see if that helps you overcome that. And number 10. I seen this one. So many times increased irritability with family, friends, and coworkers. Because we're having anxiety and burnout and all of that. We feel on edge and that's going to make us cranky. I'm only snap over minor things. And this affects our relationships. So a solution can be. All of the above. Everything we've listed already in just stress relief techniques. Look them up. Talk to ChatGPT say, what are some stress relief techniques I can try? And if you don't find something that you like in that list, that it gives you ask it for more, because eventually you'll find something you like. And when we get cranky with people, take a moment. And take a couple of deep breasts, put some space in between it, like my mentor likes to teach us. Just put some space in between it and then. Approach it with a different angle. If you need to eat, go eat. And. That helps with that irritability. Once you get food inside of you, if you have that hangry feeling, it helps to overcome that irritability. Then face that situation. But all of the techniques that we've listed above finding a hobby. Getting creative. Taking mindfulness breaks, doing breath, work, taking care of yourself. All of those things can help. With the irritability and crankiness, because that's just. The probably the most alarming sign of burnout. And it affects everybody around you. And that's not a good way to interact with others. And we want to take care of ourself first so we can be present with the others. So. In closing, we need to recognize the signs of burnout right quick, like right quick. And I want to encourage you to start listening to yourself and understanding when the signs are starting to hit and take place. And remember preventing and healing from burnout. Just take small steps. It just takes small steps consistent small steps in mindfulness and self care. And. Burnout recovery does take time. But it is possible to regain fulfillment and balance. It does happen. It just takes time. Trust the process. All right. That's my episode for today. If you found it helpful and you know, somebody who can benefit from this, please share it with them. And until next time I will see you next time. Peace out and Namaste.. Yeah.