Recognizing the Signs of Burnout Before it Becomes Detrimental

This week, we’re tackling something that hits close to home for many of us: burnout.

Whether you've experienced it yourself or seen colleagues struggle, burnout is more than just a buzzword—it's a real and pervasive issue that can derail careers and drain well-being.

Burnout can manifest in subtle ways that grow over time.

Here is a quick overview of some of the signs to look out for:

• Chronic fatigue and exhaustion—feeling physically and emotionally drained, no matter how much rest you get.
• Detachment and cynicism—a growing sense of disconnection from work or colleagues, often leading to a negative outlook.
• Decreased productivity—tasks once manageable now feel overwhelming, and performance slips.
• Physical symptoms—headaches, weakened immunity, and sleep disturbances.

Burnout isn't just stress; it’s a prolonged state that impacts your mind, body, and work, making it essential to address it proactively.

DID YOU KNOW... you get different stages of burnout

They look something like this:

• Honeymoon Phase – High job satisfaction and excitement, but with growing stress.
• Onset of Stress – Productivity struggles, increased anxiety, and irritability.
• Chronic Stress – Persistent feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, and procrastination.
• Burnout – Severe fatigue, emotional detachment, and decreased effectiveness.

BUT the real question is WHAT can YOU do about burnout, starting today?

Here are some practical tools to help you combat burnout:

• Set boundaries—define work hours, take real breaks, and communicate limits with your team.
• Practice energy management—schedule high-priority tasks during peak energy times and save low-energy periods for less demanding work.
• Say no when needed—protect your workload by only committing to essential tasks.
• Incorporate breaks and movement—use techniques like the Pomodoro method to boost productivity while keeping burnout at bay.
• Try breathing exercises—simple techniques like 4-7-8 breathing can calm your mind and body to help you manage your stress levels and focus on what needs to get done

Burnout can be detrimental to your career and health and I'm on a mission to help women in tech deeply understand how to manage stress and combat burnout so that the whole tech world thrives.

If you're feeling the effects of burnout, remember, you’re not alone.

Happy Leading

Toni xx