Burnout can cause you to feel unmotivated, irritable and low in energy.

Burnout is a state of exhaustion that can be caused by a number of things, such as long-term stress at work.

Burnout is a state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion that can cause overwhelming fatigue, reduced performance, irritability and more.

To help, the experts at Furniture at Work have identified the key signs of burnout and how to deal with them.

Physical exhaustion and low energy levels

Burnout can leave you feeling physically exhausted, making it difficult to carry out everyday tasks.

“You may be burnt out if you feel constantly drained, even after a good night’s sleep,” the experts say. “This constant state of fatigue can make it extremely difficult to perform daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and exercise.”

To avoid this, they recommend aiming for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, eating a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, protein and grains, cutting out alcohol and caffeine, and doing light exercise such as walking or yoga on your lunch break.

Loss of motivation

If you’re experiencing burnout, you may find that you don’t have the energy to do the things you used to enjoy.

“When feeling burnout, you can often feel a lack of enthusiasm for tasks you once enjoyed and so the drive to meet goals or engage with your work may dwindle, leaving you disengaged and unproductive,” the experts explain. “This lack of motivation can make even small responsibilities seem overwhelming.”

To combat this, you can break down your tasks into smaller steps to make them more manageable. You should also make sure you celebrate any successes you achieve, to regain a sense of accomplishment.

Difficulty concentrating

Burnout can impair cognitive function and make it hard to concentrate, causing typically easy tasks to feel much more challenging.

If you’re struggling to concentrate, you could try time management techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in 25-minute chunks with five-minute breaks in between.

Increased irritability and mood swings

Burnout can have a huge impact on your mood.

“If you are experiencing prolonged stress, you may become more irritable, so minor inconveniences can feel unmanageable, and you may be prone to emotional outbursts,” the experts share.

Breathing and mindfulness techniques, such as yoga breathing, can be an effective way to calm your mind and stabilise your mood.