The 10 warning signs of burnout
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It creeps up quietly, often going unnoticed until it becomes overwhelming. Spotting the signs early is key to prevention & relief. Look out for these 10 early warning signs, whether you’re an HR superstar responsible for people on a wider scale or a manager who wants to clue up on what to spot in your teams.
Physical signs of burnout
1. Employee shows signs of poor sleep
Feeling tired even after a full night's sleep suggests something deeper is going on - a physical and emotional strain. A team member might appear constantly tired, be slow to respond or struggle to stay engaged.
2. Frequent sickness absences
Burnout weakens the immune system - colds, headaches and gut issues are all common. An unexpected increase in sickness absence could be a red flag.
Cognitive signs of burnout
3. Concentration is a struggle
Struggling to focus, forgetting tasks, or feeling easily distracted could signal someone’s feeling a bit overloaded.
4. There’s a drop in performance
Burnout impacts decision-making, creativity and productivity. Burnout also doesn’t happen overnight. A gradual dip in quality or output might be a flag.
5. Self-doubt increases and self-belief decreases, out of nowhere
Employees who normally show confidence but start second-guessing themselves may be struggling under the surface.
6. Difficulty seeing the bigger picture
Burnout can make small challenges feel very big indeed. If an employee seems easily overwhelmed by minor issues, struggles to prioritise tasks, or loses focus on bigger goals, burnout might be at play.
Emotional signs of burnout
7. A lack of motivation becomes obvious
Tasks that used to feel fulfilling can start to feel overwhelming or pointless for those heading towards burnout. Motivation might become clearer.
8. Employee becomes detached or withdraws
Employees pulling away from colleagues, meetings or social activities (consistently) could be experiencing emotional exhaustion.
9. Overreactions
If even small setbacks are triggering large emotional reactions (that seem disproportionate to the situation), someone might be dealing with chronic stress.
10. An overly cynical attitude
A shift towards more negative, sceptical views about the workplace or leadership is a strong emotional signal of burnout.
Why spotting burnout signs early matters
Burnout isn’t a medical condition, it’s an occupational phenomenon that can be triggered in busy professionals who aren’t sure what steps to take to prevent it. When we know how to spot the physical, cognitive and emotional signs of burnout, it makes it easier to step in with the right support.
Think you may have a burnout challenge or want to make sure employees have the right support to prevent chronic stress?
Get in touch at hello@myndup.com (or button to book a demo page). We’ve got 1:1 support, workshops and coaching programmes that are designed to create healthier working environments where employees have individualised, proactive and accessible provisions to stop and relieve burnout in its tracks!