Burnout: The Signs I Missed

For some context: I am a person who was labelled a ‘bright’ child, and continued to excel throughout school and into GCSE’s. At 15, I would finish school at 2.30 and study until 10/11pm because I was scared of failing. I took these habits into college and university - and ended up with a first class degree! I expected I would stop overworking myself once I achieved my first class degree, as I would feel I had done enough. News flash - habits you’ve had the last 6 years don’t die easily. Since finishing university I decided to pursue freelancing seriously, building my own business alongside a part-time job. I am officially at the 6-month mark and recently realised I hit burn out. 

Signs I missed/ignored: 

• Started missing meetings (this is totally not me. I thrive on my colour coded calendar, but I found my enthusiasm for admin and meeting which I usually love had totally dissipated) 

• I lost my creativity - I would be on set and want to cry, feeling like I had no idea what to do with the product, how to light it and how the end images would align

• I found myself thinking I haven’t eaten much, but im not tired? (I was running on andrenaline that’s why. Fool.) 

• My sciatic nerve started playing up - this obviously doesn’t apply to everyone, but I feel most people have that one injury that only flares with stress, that is mine.

• I started deciding my usual psychical activity wasn’t for me anymore - I stopped going to the gym and boogie bounce, even though they have brought me joy for over a year.

These are some signs I have only noticed through reflection, and the help of the book Burnout: Solve Your Stress Cycle. I will talk more about what I learnt through the book and how I am overcoming the burnout in the new couple of posts :)