How do you know if you're burnt out? Let's deep dive.

Hello friends, so glad you're here for our first email in our Burnout Recovery series.

Today, we will be deep diving into early signs of burnout in an effort to help you name the signs and call them what they are: alarm bells that things need to change.

If you were able to read about my burnout story last week, then you know that I was able to recognize about four to five months AFTER beginning to have symptoms that burnout was what I was experiencing. I was struggling in my day-to-day life but had yet to recognize those early signs of burnout with enough time to understand how to turn it around before I reached total shutdown.

From my own lived experience, here are the signs that I was able to pinpoint and name:

Trouble sleeping: My sleep issues presented themselves as insomnia, the inability to stay asleep, and racing thoughts all night. I could not have consistent and reliable sleep patterns, leading to many other problems in my day-to-day life. I tried so hard to stay awake during the day, but the sleepless nights would absolutely take their toll on me.

Rumination of my to-do list: When I recognized this as a consistent red flag in my burnout recovery journey, I realized I had pitted myself against myself. I was never going to do enough to satisfy the running list in my mind, so it would NEVER be enough to make myself feel better. I noticed that I would dread resting because I felt the guilt pile on for taking time to myself. It was a constant stream of negative thoughts and feelings, drilling me further down the spiral.

Exaggerated inability to focus: One of the highlight symptoms of ADHD is the inability to focus on things that you have limited interest in, but in the case of burnout, I was experiencing this on a grander scale. Every day I would find my mind wandering to a foggy and empty wasteland, even if I was thinking about something I would normally love, like music or spending time with my family.

Quick to anger and irritability: My family was on the receiving end of so much anger and irritability and were some of the first people to help me understand that I was not acting like myself. Anything could set me off, and the overstimulation from my kids would put me in a very dark place.

Making careless mistakes: I lost the ability to care about my actions and decisions. I would make scheduling and editing mistakes and avoid regular business tasks like managing my finances. I ended up completely giving up and turning away clients because I couldn't handle any more on my plate.

Hobbies have lost their spark: The things that would bring me joy, like playing the piano and immersing myself in music, triggered my sadness and depression. I didn’t even want to touch the piano for weeks; it became a source of distress.

Dread socializing with friends and family members: I was no stranger to alone time, but this was on another level. I would stay home, isolated in my room in my bed, and feel utterly helpless. I would avoid conversations with my family, close friends, and even my children for fear of snapping at them.

This brings me to my questions: Which signs, if any, are you recognizing in your life? Have you experienced neurodivergent burnout before? What is contributing to your burnout in your day-to-day life?

I want you to remember that my burnout experience is why the Accountable Otters Club exists and why I designed the AOC formula with burnout prevention at the heart. Our membership is the definition of community care; safe, interpersonal interactions and accountability with like-minded humans on journeys to achieve their goals.

Join us here:

As an early adopter, you will receive 20% off of membership for the first six months. You'll find supportive admins, guided journaling, spaces for ROMPing and RAFTing, weekly body doubling, free, downloadable planner templates, mini-courses, and a host of other perks. This special is only available for the month of March, so join us today.

Use coupon code FLOATON to lock in the discount at checkout.

I also have two remaining spots for 1:1 accountability coaching, so if you are called to work with me on a deeper level, I am here for you. My 1:1 coaching clients have this to say so far about their experiences:

Please reply to this email if you envision 1:1 accountability coaching as part of your membership experience.

I'll leave you with an invitation: Take a day this week to RAFT, and reflect on where you are. Hold space for yourself as you analyze your day-to-day and determine if you are headed down a healthy and sustainable path. Are you feeling satisfied? Are you worried? Finally, consider where you will be if you don't change how you proceed. Will you be in a better place or in a much more difficult and unsafe place?

Next week, we will learn real-life strategies for burnout recovery and healing, including different types of rest necessary.

Here for you, and holding space for you,

Izzie

P.S. Know anyone who could use the knowledge and community care of the Accountable Otters Club? Forward them this email with a note explaining why you believe they could benefit. Be sure to follow us on Instagram as well.