7 Signs of burnout
Sep 22, 2026
I read something in The Australian this week that took me straight back to my twenties. I had a national sales role early in my career, in a culture that ran on chronic pressure and fear. Nothing was ever celebrated. There was always a push for more, or a reason something wasn't quite good enough. Constant criticism, dressed up as high standards. Young and ambitious, I was so focused on impressing management, that I told myself I could push through it. My body disagreed. I ended up with a stomach ulcer in my twenties, and it took that to make me stop and look at what was actually going on. The article laid out seven signs of burnout, and reading it, I wished someone had handed me this list back then.
You're snapping at people, especially the ones you love
Success stops feeling like success, no sense of achievement even when things are going well
You can't switch off, even on weekends or holidays
You feel negative about everything, work and life
Everyday tasks start to feel overwhelming
Your health is taking a hit, sleep, digestion, headaches, tension
You're avoiding telling your manager how much you're struggling
I’ve had more than 1 client say to me this week “I think I am burned out”
In my experience, your body keeps score long before your calendar admits there's an issue. If you're not sure how you're really going in your role, I think this is a genuinely good list to have on hand. Save it, come back to it, be honest with yourself about how many of these sound familiar.