The other day I was recording an episode of my new podcast. We were talking about stress and burnout. They show up differently for each person, yet there are patterns worth noticing.
What I see most often:
- your sleep is off or you wake up tired
- simple decisions feel heavy
- you snap at small things or go quiet
- you keep working but feel oddly numb
- the work that used to give you energy now feels flat
- your body is talking to you with headaches, tight chest, or stomach issues
If a few of these ring true, you are not broken. You are overloaded. Here is what helps.
What to do next:
- name it. say out loud what is happening and when it tends to spike
- tell one person you trust. a friend, a partner, a colleague, your doctor
- create a small pause in your day. ten minutes outside without your phone
- protect one boundary. one meeting you cancel, one evening without work
- move your body. a short walk does more than you think
- eat and hydrate on purpose. basics work when you are under strain
- write down the three things that matter this week. let the rest wait
- if symptoms persist, speak with a professional
If you are struggling in any way, please tell someone. Do not be proud. This can be fixed. I mean that.
I am here as well. If you want a place to talk it through, reach out.
All my best,
Peter
