7 Signs Youre Fast Approaching a Breakdown at Work (and How to Slam on the Brakes)

7 Signs Youre Fast Approaching a Breakdown at Work (and How to Slam on the Brakes)7 Signs Youre Fast Approaching a Breakdown at Work (and How to Slam on the Brakes)Mental burnout, coined in the 1970s to describe the psychological effects of relentless work stress, happens so subtly that you can easily confuse the symptoms for other negative forces, like a bad cold or a bad boss. Youd think youd know- or at least feel- the signs of burnout pretty quickly, right? Not always.Here are seven red flags that youre under serious mental stress- and how to fix them.1. Youre Overly CynicalFinding youre more sarcastic than you used to be? Mocking your pals (albeit over-the-top) bridal shower when shes always been a kind friend to you? Check yourself to landsee if youre going through tough stuff thats making you more cynical. Being a Debbie Downer can be a common coping mechanism for stress.2. You Want to Run AwayDo you crave throwing it all away and booking a one-way ticket to Bali? Fantasizing about going off the grid for good and relocating to a cabin in rural Canada? This temptation could just be a symptom of worn-out burnout, say experts. Avoidance is aleidher coping mechanism where you try to distance yourself from your job or avoid it because youre putting in too much effort to begin with in the misguided hope that it will accelerate your success.3. Youre Messing Up Normally Easy TasksMaking all kinds of slip-ups lately? From forgetting your anniversary to spacing out on that breakfast meeting, a sudden lack of attention to details is a warning sign of burnout. When you have a difficult time remembering things or keeping your mind on daily tasks, say Dutch researchers, its probably time to dial back on stress to feel less distracted.4. Youre Always TiredDo you prefer to sleep away a gorgeous, sunny Saturday morning? That persistent sluggishness can be a classic cue, especially if you find that one day of sleeping in doesnt eliminate lethargy. Emotional exhaustion is a telltale sign that youre suffering from work dysfunction.5. Youre Always DisgruntledAt your wits end at work? Walking around claiming your bosses are bullies and your colleagues are catty? Sure, your characterizations of a gone-sour workplace can be true. But these sentiments may also be a symptom of overload burnout. To cope with being a frenetic employee who works toward success until exhaustion, according to the Association for Psychological Science, you just may start blaming your work culture (for no good reason) for your self-imposed frantic pace to get to the top.6. Youre Doubting YourselfYouve worked hard to gain traction in your field of choice, so why are you wondering lately whether what you do has any merit? This distorted feeling of reduced accomplishment is a classic symptom of burnout and can affect anyone who has been working too hard, from surgeons to elite athletes. Your mind starts to play tricks on you as a way to handle the constant demands of your job.7. Your e Sick All the TimeGot headaches that wont go away? A tummy that gurgles all the time? How about a lingering respiratory affliction that nags at you? If the doctors cant find anything, consider a closer examination of your work calendar, say scientists who have found plenty of links between physical health complaints and burnout. Sometimes work stress can even result in actual bodily harm. Higher levels of burnout, say one studys authors, led to a faster rate of deterioration in physical health, from the common cold to heart problems.How to Feel BetterIf you said yes to any of the above, its time to step back and start making changes. Try one of the followingIntentionally book some time with friends who always put a smile on your face. That means youre going to have to scale back on some of the work demands on your calendar, but thats the point, isnt it?Splurge on yourself with a little TLC. Whether this means booking a spa appointment or tickets to a hot show youve read about, its time to renew your appreciation of the world youve worked hard to build for yourself.Trim down your to-do list. When youre letting important details slip through the cracks, chances are you have crammed more into your day than is realistically possible.Express work concerns to your bosses. It may seem counterintuitive to draw attention to your dissatisfaction to those you believe are to blame. But, when you approach this conversation as an intervention, not a conflict, you may be able to remove the tensions at last.Reorganize your work goals to invigorate yourself again. The burnout connected to exhaustion can indicate that youre not just tired, but tired of the same old minutiae of your day-to-day routine.Seek ways to take on new responsibilities in the same field to feel more engaged. Join an organization related to an aspect of your job that youd like to gain more experience in.Book a vacation It isnt a cop-out to take leave. Think of it as doctors orders. A beach break might be exactly what you need.More From DailyWorth6 Habits to Make You HappierYou Dont Have to Be Perfect 6 Ways to Let GoMoney Can Buy Happiness 5 Purchases That Boost Your MoodPhoto of low battery courtesy of Shutterstock.