10 Signs of High-Functioning Burnout You Might Be Ignoring
Most people imagine burnout as collapse - being unable to get out of bed, calling in sick or having a breakdown. But high-functioning burnout looks very different.
It's when you are still doing all the things you have to do - working, parenting, showing up for everyone - but underneath it feels like you are running on empty.
Here are 10 signs you might be running on empty:
You look calm on the outside, but inside you are wired. Your body is stuck in "go mode", even when you try to rest.
You wake up tired, no matter how much sleep you get. Rest doesn't feel restorative because your nervous system is on high alert.
You're snapping at people for no reason. Little things feel big because your body is overloaded.
You rely on caffeine, sugar or wine to keep you going. Quick fixes are your survival tool.
You struggle to switch off at night. Even if you are exhausted, your mind keeps racing.
You walk into a room and forget what you went there for, or feel foggy. Stress steals focus, memory and clarity.
You feel guilty when you rest. Your brain tells you to "do more" even when your body begs for calm.
You keep thinking "I need a holiday". But even after a holiday you don't feel relaxed or recharged.
You have lost touch with what actually brings you joy. It feels like you are surviving life, not living it.
You tell yourself you are "fine", but deep down you know you aren't. You body whispers warnings to you before it screams.
High-functioning burnout isn't sustainable.
All those signs you notice are your body asking you to stop pushing through, it wants you to pause, listen and reset before things get worse.
Living in high-functioning burnout for too long doesn't just make you feel tired, it chips away at your health and sense of self. Over time, it can lead to hormonal imbalances, weight changes, poor sleep, anxiety, low moof and even more serious health conditions linked to chronic stress. Relationships can suffer too, because you are running on survival mode rather than connection. The longer you override your body's signals, the louder they will get, until your body forces you to stop.
Next step: Take the Nervous System Quiz, to see how regulated your system really is, and to start reconnecting with your body today.
