The hands of the clock keep moving, but your body needs to rest.

Sometimes, fatigue persists even after resting. Headaches, nausea, stomach pain, sleep

disturbances (whether sleeping more or less), and changes in appetite can all be warning signs.

Burnout can also manifest by impacting the immune system, making us more vulnerable to

colds, infections, or slowing recovery from physical conditions. Cardiovascular problems such as

palpitations, high blood pressure, and chest pain may also appear. Personality changes, increased

irritability, difficulty concentrating, and withdrawal from friends and family are common. Often,

the body becomes aware of burnout before we recognize its emotional aspects.

Excessive work hours, professional demands, and household responsibilities can lead to

emotional exhaustion, which manifests as extreme fatigue, a lack of energy and motivation,

feelings of worthlessness, irritability, and a cold attitude toward colleagues or clients. Many

studies have demonstrated the physiological impact of burnout, especially on sleep patterns. A

person who doesn’t sleep well, or who sleeps but doesn’t feel rested, will have greater difficulty

recovering from burnout. This can become a never-ending cycle.

So, what can we do when these symptoms appear? Prevention is key. It’s essential to prioritize

taking breaks and be aware of the early warning signs. Prioritizing rest and recovery should be a

responsibility, just like any other. I often hear people say they’ve gotten used to sleeping only

four or five hours, but it’s not about teaching your body to survive—it’s about giving it the care it

needs to function optimally. This isn’t just about meeting daily responsibilities or work demands,

but also about being present for those around us, for those we love, with our best attitude and our

best self.

Individual psychotherapy with a clinical psychologist provides tools to promote self-care, teach

stress management skills, identify additional stressors, make value-based decisions, and reduce

perfectionism, among other areas. If your body is sending you a signal, it’s time to pause and

take action, preventing significant medical conditions and improving your quality of life. Give

yourself permission to pause and take care of yourself.