The Signs I Failed to Notice When Burning Out
16 Sep 2026 #wellness #selfgrowthI spent three days on medication before I could leave the bathroom.
Everything I ate sent me to the toilet. I even had to call a doctor to get a prescription over the phone, just to be able to get out of the house for an appropriate doctor’s appointment. It was the peak of my burnout, in 2023.
It took me days before I could eat without fear. My job was such a pain that I wanted to finish my daily tasks as soon as I could, and I skipped meals and had irregular eating schedules. Bad idea!
Getting stomach sick was a loud siren, but there was a more subtle sign I didn’t notice.
For weeks, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I thought there was no point! Every day felt and looked the same. Another pointless meeting. Another boring task. Another mark on the wall. I waited until the last minute to rush from my bed to my meetings. Thank goodness they were over Teams, and nobody noticed I didn’t shower or my breath.
That apathy and disengagement started Sunday evenings. Just imagining what the next Monday would look like already gave me a funny feeling in my chest and stomach. It wasn’t love butterflies.
I tried taking vacations and sick days. But once I was back, my energy got depleted after a few days. Back to square one, trapped on my bed again.
Some days you’re just tired and don’t want to get up. But if that’s multiple days in a row, don’t wait to fall sick. That’s the first sign to look for.
If you’re feeling lost, bring a sense of joy to your life every day. That’s idea #1 in 10 Surprisingly Simple Ideas That Changed My Life.