The cognitive signs of burnout are simple to state, but hard to recognize in the moment: Decreased Concentration, Memory Issues, Indecisiveness, and Negative Thinking. We may not experience all of them at one time, it might be gradual, but we must be aware. Full on burnout is debilitating.

Burnout is real. And the effects on us as human beings are huge. And it’s not a “suck it up, Buttercup” sort of thing. It may take months. Therapy. Talking through things. And a total rework of how we do life.

What Martha didn’t realize was she was experiencing the classic physical signs of burnout. Fatigue, sleep Issues, headaches/muscle tension, frequent illness, and appetite changes are all physical signs of burnout. (1) She experienced it because of all the outside forces pressing in on her life, and if we are to really look at our lives, we’ll see the same thing.

This week, we are looking at burnout. There were subtle signs throughout the year I could have noticed if I’d known, but I had no clue. Burnout is bigger than exhaustion, it’s debilitating and means our body isn’t functioning the way it was designed. God’s master design is so much better if we understand it. And when we don’t, burnout runs its full course and we are toast.