The Not-So-Obvious Sign You May Be Facing Mental Burnout, From A Reiki Master

Burnout can be tricky: Not only can it manifest in a multitude of ways, both physical and mental, but it can be difficult to identify burnout before it becomes severe. It can be rather frustrating; after all, the key to managing burnout is to prevent the onset in the first place—aka, to combat the stress before it becomes debilitating.

Research shows that a leading factor of mental burnout is prolonged stress1, but it can be difficult to recognize those triggers, especially if they may be disguised as ambition. Take it from Patel: "I thought I was an overachiever," she recounts on the mbg podcast. "It was this idea that I could keep going, but I didn't realize I was suffering in the process." 

Finding that slight overlap between ambition and exhaustion, says Patel, is the key to identifying your burnout. In terms of what that looks like in practice, here's a prime example: "It could be this feeling that there's always more to do," she explains. Even after a busy workday, a nagging feeling may creep up that you haven't done enough—you may feel determined yet overwhelmed (burnout's favorite pair of emotions, according to Patel).

Additionally, "it's noticing if your mind is continuing to race." For example, you may brainstorm other activities you could be doing before you even complete the task at hand. When this happens, your go-getter attitude may have an opposite effect, leaving you feeling unfulfilled and overworked. Research backs it up, too: One study even found that mental burnout can lead to inadequate job performance and satisfaction2 in some people.