Your managers push you to complete work on time; sometimes they do not care about your feelings and sometimes it may feel as though they are harassing you. Such actions put pressure on you. Pressure can also come from home, especially when you live with a needy family member. Many people, especially expats, busy professionals, and remote workers, struggle to differentiate between being simply overworked and experiencing full burnout. Below, we will explore how to know whether you are burned out or simply exhausted from overworking.
What Does It Actually Mean to Be Overworked?
Being overworked can happen to anyone, whether employed, in business, or self-employed. Even prominent people such as presidents and musicians sometimes feel overworked. Overworking is not permanent; it is a temporary state caused by long hours or demanding responsibilities. Therefore, we overwork when we take on too many responsibilities. The common signs that you are overworked include:
- Physical fatigue.
- Lack of energy but still able to recharge after rest.
- Irritability or stress mainly linked to workload.
- Feeling rushed but still motivated.
- Illness or physical aches.
- Reduced passion and motivation.
- In prolonged cases: neglected personal life.
- In prolonged cases: strained personal relationships.
What Is Burnout?
Sometimes, the pressures of work and life can lead to the dangerous state of burnout. It is important to note that burnout is a deeper, long-term emotional and mental exhaustion. Burnout often starts with overworking and develops into a more serious condition. Often, burnout takes a long time to reverse. As such, it is not simply feeling tired but rather feeling detached from yourself, as if your body is shutting down..
When burned out, you notice that:
- Exhaustion persists even after rest, such as a long weekend.
- You are unable to sleep despite your tiredness.
- You become emotionally numb or detached.
- You are not enthusiastic about activities you used to enjoy.
- You cannot make decisions.
- You lack concentration.
How to Tell the Difference
Sometimes, understanding the difference between burnout and overworking boils down to asking yourself simple questions for clarity. One such question is: “Do you feel refreshed after time off, or do you return feeling exactly the same?” If you can sleep off your tiredness, you are simply overworked. However, if no amount of rest can restore your energy, if the fatigue lingers no matter what you do, you are burned out. It is important to note that prolonging burnout can make recovery harder, thereby affecting your relationships, performance, and self-esteem.
How Therapy Helps You Regain Control
You cannot solve this challenge on your own, and nobody expects you to. Speak to a therapist to help you identify the underlying issue. Therapy will help when you feel confused or when your thoughts feel disorganized. Online therapy can provide tools to:
- Manage stress before it escalates.
- Clarify boundaries and priorities.
- Support you in rebuilding energy and motivation.
- Rebuild motivation without pushing yourself to the limit.
Whether you live abroad, travel frequently, or work irregular hours, online therapy offers support that fits your lifestyle.
You Don’t Have to Handle This Alone
With the right guidance, recovery from burnout is entirely possible. Therefore, regardless of where you are, you deserve support. Global Online Therapy specializes in helping individuals who feel isolated by their circumstances. Whether you are far from home, working online, or living where traditional services are limited, Global Online Therapy brings professional therapy close to you.
If you feel burned out, get in contact, your intake session is free of charge!