STEP 1 | Early signs of burnout in women

THE BIGGEST EARLY SIGN?
Rest stops working! If a weekend off doesn’t restore you or you come back and crash again fast — that’s a key early signal.

Burnout is typically described by three dimensions: energy depletion/exhaustion, cynicism/mental distance from work, and reduced professional efficacy.

BEHAVIOUR + HABITS (what changes first)
◉ You start avoiding emails, calls, or client messages
◉ You procrastinate on things you normally handle well
◉ You withdraw socially: “I can’t people right now”
◉ You stop doing the basics that keep you steady (movement, proper meals, hydration)
◉ More scrolling, more snacking, more wine — anything for relief
◉ Business-specific signs (midlife entrepreneur edition)
◉ You dread work you used to enjoy
◉ You feel resentful: “I’m carrying everything”
◉ You overdeliver, but feel oddly unfulfilled afterwards
◉ You lose confidence in your offers even if results are good
◉ You fantasise about disappearing, quitting, or starting over, not from strategy, but from exhaustion



ENERGY + BODY (how body speaks)
◉ You wake up tired, even after a full night’s sleep
◉ You need more caffeine/sugar just to feel “normal”
◉ Your body feels heavier than usual (everything takes more effort)
◉ More headaches, neck/shoulder tension, jaw clenching
◉ Digestive changes (bloating, cramps, constipation/loose stools)
◉ Sleep becomes lighter, broken, or you wake at 3–4am with a racing mind
◉ You’re getting ill more often, or recovery takes longer



MIND + FOCUS (the brain fog)
◉ You’re forgetting small things (names, appointments, what you walked into the room for)
◉ Decision-making feels weirdly hard
◉ You start tasks easily, but can’t finish them
◉ Your creativity dips — posting, writing, pitching feels like pushing a boulder
◉ You’re more easily overwhelmed by admin and messages



EMOTIONS + MOOD (subtle shifts)
◉ You’re more irritable, snappy, or emotionally reactive
◉ Or the opposite: you feel flat, numb, and “not bothered”
◉ You cry more easily (or feel like you might)
◉ You feel guilt for resting, yet can’t truly switch off
◉ Small setbacks feel disproportionately big