Let’s state the obvious and get it out of the way: accounting talent is hard to find these days, and the resulting squeeze on existing employees seems only to get tighter in response. Crazy deadlines, long hours, and high expectations put an enormous amount of pressure on accountants in the best of times, but in recent years that pressure has ramped up to truly epic levels. In turn, the accounting profession has gotten very comfortable with the term “burnout,” and plenty of authorities have discussed burnout symptoms to help accountants identify the condition.
Tax busy season is coming up quickly, making everything that much more stressful. When the stress gets intense, most of us know by now that we need to get some balance, and that activities like getting exercise or refocusing our attention to family or hobbies can really help. But what if you aren’t even realizing you’re burned out? Believe it or not, it can happen. And when it does, your body and subconscious can respond in a variety of obvious and not-so-obvious ways.
Here are just some of the often hidden symptoms of burnout.
The physical symptoms of burnout often look like many other things, so they get overlooked and written off as a bad clam or allergies. But if they persist long after you’ve dismissed all the other possible causes, it might be worthwhile looking into whether burnout is your problem. As with any physical symptoms, your doctor should be your first stop.
Insomnia
Difficulty sleeping from time to time isn’t abnormal, but if it persists for days or weeks, it’s often a sign something else is wrong. Many times, that something is burnout. Though most of us understand that stress can cause sleeplessness, it often gets attributed to other causes, from diet to room temperature.
Stomach issues
As symptoms go, stomach trouble is famously universal and non-specific. It could be caused by a dozen different things, and stress or burnout are sometimes last on the list of suspects. If your stomach is prone to acting up on you, the connection can be even harder to make. But for many people, unrelenting stress will manifest as stomach pain or an associated gastrointestinal condition.
Headaches
Okay, everyone knows headaches can be caused by stress, so this might not seem so “hidden.” But you can be burned out without necessarily feeling stressed out, and might not make the connection. A tension headache has some specific features you can use to help identify it.
Here are the specific features of a tension headache:
Burnout doesn't just manifest physically; it can significantly affect your emotional well-being. Unrelenting and continuous stress can lead to symptoms not entirely unlike PTSD If you find yourself experiencing any of the following emotional symptoms, it might be time to consider whether burnout is the cause:
Cynicism and Detachment
You might start to feel detached from your work, clients, or colleagues. This can make it hard to place events in time, as often many days and interactions begin to feel like carbon copies. Cynicism can creep in, making you question the value of your efforts. If you’re Lewis Black though, this can be considered baseline.
Decreased Accomplishment
Burnout can erode your sense of accomplishment and productivity. You may feel like you're not making a difference or achieving your goals, or that you’re constantly chasing down the next task without ever getting anything done.
Reduced Motivation
Your drive and motivation may dwindle, leading to your needing to “force yourself” to get things done. Tasks that used to excite you might now feel burdensome, and ones that always felt burdensome might now seem impossible.
Irritability
You might find yourself more irritable, with a shorter fuse when dealing with stressors. If you find yourself snapping at others for minor issues, or feeling as though you always wake up on the wrong side of the proverbial bed, this could be burnout raising its ugly head.
Social Isolation
Burnout can lead to withdrawing from social interactions. You may prefer solitude over engaging with others. Groups might seem overwhelming, or conversation with more than a few participants hard to follow.
Remember, burnout is a common experience, but it’s not always clear that it’s the problem. By recognizing the hidden symptoms and taking steps to combat burnout, you can regain your physical and emotional well-being, ensuring a more fulfilling career and life.
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