Many entrepreneurs ignore the signs of burnout because productivity culture rewards people who overwork. But burnout can damage your physical and mental health and compromise your business. Recognising the signs of burnout early gives you the opportunity to reset your habits before your body forces you to stop. 

Here are seven signs that you’re experiencing burnout.

1. Your eyes hurt

If your eyes hurt from working long hours, you’re not alone. Digital eye strain is common among entrepreneurs and is one of the clearest warning signs that you’re working too much. Symptoms of eye strain are often brushed off as just another part of the grind, but if you don’t intervene, the damage could become permanent. 

Staring at a screen close up for long periods of time can cause headaches, dry eyes, blurry vision, and even twitching. If you spend all day staring at your laptop or phone, your eyes don’t have a chance to recover, and the impact will compound. 

If you already rely on corrective lenses, burnout can amplify your discomfort. Staring at a screen for hours dries your eyes out because you don’t blink as often. That dryness can get worse when you wear contacts. 

If your vision has deteriorated to the point where you can’t work without glasses, you may want to consider Lasik eye surgery to correct your vision. Reducing your dependency on glasses or contacts can make long workdays easier and more comfortable.

2. You’re available 24/7 (and you’re tired)

Running a business often requires working long hours, constantly responding to emails, and meeting rapid customer demands. It’s important to make sure everyone is taken care of, but being available all the time can push your nervous system into a state of chronic stress that will eventually lead to burnout.

Although hustle culture says you need to respond to every communication within minutes, it’s better if you plan a time each day to respond to all of your emails and other messages. Doing it this way allows you to focus on each issue fully and provide a more thoughtful response.

3. Your notifications irritate you

Burnout lowers your emotional tolerance. If you get angry faster than usual, no longer enjoy dealing with customers, or get defensive during routine communications, these are all signs of burnout. When you’re burned out, small interruptions feel aggressive. All those Slack notifications, customer questions, missed calls, and simple requests can trigger instant frustration. Some entrepreneurs see this as a lack of patience, but it’s usually a sign of mental exhaustion. 

Instead of responding to everything as it comes in, turn off your notifications so they can’t create disruptions and check each app once a day on your own time. 

4. You don’t have a sleep schedule anymore

If you’re not sleeping regularly or you stay up all night until you crash, it’s going to catch up with you. Entrepreneurs commonly mistake sleep deprivation for ambition, but there’s nothing glamorous about being sleep deprived. If you’re exhausted all day but still mentally alert at 2am, that’s a sign that your nervous system is on overdrive from burnout. 

To reset your sleep cycle, get in bed an hour before you plan on sleeping and just let yourself unwind. 

5. You’re starting to resent your business

Many burned-out entrepreneurs feel detached or resentful about managing their business, even when experiencing “wins”. If you don’t get excited about things like an increase in sales or positive reviews, you could be emotionally numb. If you’re daydreaming about disappearing and shutting everything down, that’s a huge indication that you’re burned out.

There’s no quick way to erase resent, but it will fade when you start addressing all your other symptoms.

6. You struggle to focus

Burnout inhibits your body from naturally regulating energy. To compensate, most entrepreneurs rely on caffeine or stimulants to maintain basic levels of productivity. If you can’t get through the day without multiple cups of coffee or energy drinks, you’re probably burned out. 

Try weaning yourself off of your external energy sources and getting more sleep. Exercise and good nutrition will help.

7. Your body isn’t cooperating

Burnout can impact your physical body by causing constant muscle tension, digestive issues, migraines, and even inflammation. If you can’t relax your body easily or you don’t have much of an appetite, burnout is likely the culprit. Don’t ignore these symptoms because they won’t go away on their own.

Acknowledging burnout doesn’t make you weak

Highly driven people tend to ignore signs of burnout until it’s too late. Recognising the signs early makes it easier to reduce overload and create work habits that support your brain and body. It’s not hard to spot the signs. You just need to take them seriously.

Robert Haynes, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.