Burnout

Let's talk about that feeling of just being...done. Like, completely drained and unable to even think about what's the next thing you have to do... 

Burnout

It doesn't always hit you like a truck; more often, it creeps in subtly until you're fried without even realising it.

Sound familiar?

‍

‍

Sadly, it does to me. I knew I was burning out a bit, but with so much on and so much at stake, I just had to keep going... until I couldn't anymore.

‍

The tipping point for me was last week when I finally got an offer from an investor to cover the Creptician founding round (yes, the entire £250k, on my terms), and guess what? Instead of being happy and excited, I felt nothing. I was just exhausted, and all I wanted was to sleep because I've been having migraines for the past few weeks. So, I went to bed and slept for 14 hours.

‍

My sister told me to take a break, because if I'm not well, nothing will work. And she's absolutely right.

‍

HERE IS A LIST OF A FEW PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS THAT CHARACTERISE BURNOUT:

‍

• Constant Exhaustion: Feeling tired isn't just a physical state; it's mental and emotional too, leaving you drained at the thought of starting your day.
   
• Zero Motivation: You have time to do your daily tasks, but you'd rather do literally anything else. Procrastination wins every time.
   
• Idea Drought: Your usual well of creativity has gone dry. You stare at the blank page, feeling…nothing.
   
• Dread Instead of Excitement: The thought of working on a project fills you with a sense of blah, not the excitement you used to feel.
   
• Frustration: You find yourself more irritable and less patient, frustrated by tasks that used to be easy or even enjoyable.
   
• Anxiety: There's a persistent worry about your work and capabilities, often making you question if you're good enough.
   
• Lack of Focus: Concentrating on a single task becomes challenging, with your mind wandering aimlessly.
   
• Neglecting Yourself: You start skipping meals, exercise, or sleep, prioritising work or obligations over your health.
   
• Overwhelming Self-doubt: There's a paralysing fear that no matter what you do, it won't be successful, undermining your confidence. You stop responding to messages, stop going out and completely withdraw.
   
• Cognitive Issues: Trouble remembering things, making decisions, or thinking clearly becomes more frequent.
   
• Deteriorating Health: Your sleeping patterns are all over the place and neglecting your well-being leads to physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach issues, or worsening of chronic conditions.

‍

‍

MY ADVICE?

‍

If any of these sound familiar, just STOP. Don’t wait until something goes wrong or until your health begins to suffer and makes you pay attention.

FYI my therapist told me that it takes as long as you got into the state of burnout to get out of it. (Imagine…😱) 

So, my friend, nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.

‍

‍