248: Recognizing the Signs: Identifying Early Indicators of Burnout

Apr 29, 2025

Are you experiencing subtle burnout without even knowing it? The discussion highlights how burnout often manifests quietly, through fatigue, cynicism, and dwindling joy. Key indicators include emotional signs that go unnoticed, physical symptoms, and behaviors that reveal underlying issues. The podcast debunks the myth that burnout signifies weakness—it's often a sign of enduring too much without support. Listeners are encouraged to recognize these signals and adopt practical strategies for recovery, emphasizing the strength found in seeking help.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Prioritize Early Burnout Recognition

Recognize burnout early through self-awareness to avoid serious health consequences.
Create a plan with boundaries and support before burnout forces long career breaks.

INSIGHT

Burnout Is More Than Stress

Burnout is not just stress; it's emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion from prolonged stress.
Some stress is beneficial and necessary for functioning, but chronic stress harms health deeply.

INSIGHT

Irritability Fuels Burnout Cycle

Irritability and overwhelm become self-perpetuating, worsening burnout and hurting relationships.
Burnout often alters behavior beyond work, impacting family and social interactions negatively.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Are you silently burning out—and don’t even realize it? Burnout isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet fatigue, the creeping cynicism, or the missed moments of joy that tell the real story.

Whether you're a woman in tech leadership, or someone simply trying to do it all, this episode is your wake-up call. I’m breaking down the early emotional, physical, behavioral, cognitive, and workplace signs of burnout—and more importantly, how to address them before they lead to long-term damage. Plus, I debunk the myth that burnout means you’re not strong enough—it actually means you’ve been strong for too long without support.

"Burnout is not a reflection of your abilities or your worth. It is a signal that something needs to change." – Toni

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

What burnout really is—and why it's not just stress
The 3 emotional indicators of burnout that often go unnoticed
The physical symptoms your body uses to signal burnout
How your behavior may be quietly telling you something’s wrong
Cognitive signs like decision fatigue and imposter syndrome
How burnout shows up in your work and personal life
Why pushing harder might actually be the problem
Practical strategies for recognizing and reversing burnout
And more!

Feeling off but can’t quite put your finger on it?

If you've been pushing through, this episode invites you to slow down and listen. Because sometimes the strongest thing you can do is stop ignoring the signs.

**Useful links**

If you are ready to uplevel your career, get unstuck or you are simply ready to unlock those leadership time-management techniques then join us in my monthly career & leadership coaching program exclusively for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/academy
Catch the show notes, and more details about today's episode here: https://tonicollis.com/episode248
Check us out on Youtube.
Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women’s tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.