You're probably suffering from burnout, and you don't even know it.

Working five days a week can make you feel like a small sponge being squeezed by the hands of a giant.

It’s natural to occasionally feel overwhelmed, but when these feelings linger they can become something else entirely: occupational burnout.

Occupational burnout is a type of a psychological stress often seen in individuals who work in high stress environments. It’s characterised by symptoms such as exhaustion, negativity, no self-care and no motivation.

These are the warning signs.

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1. Exhaustion.

One of the main signs of burnout is feeling tired all the time.

Fight exhaustion by forcing an earlier bed-time with all devices switched off 30 minutes before the chosen time. The Australian Government recommends adults get around eight hours every night for optimum performance during the day.

Staying awake for 24 hours is said to affect hand-eye co-ordination similar to a blood alcohol level of 0.1.

       2. Negativity. 

A build-up of negative thoughts, feelings and attitudes can often be a sign of burnout.

Combat negative thoughts by taking a moment to think about why you’re upset and whether you can address it another way. Are you really crying over the fact somebody drank the last of the full-cream or is something else going on?

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3. No Self-Care.

Excessive drinking, smoking and a lack of sleep can point towards an incorrect prioritisation of your own needs.

Ask yourself whether the actions of your past week were self-care or self-medication. Are those dinner wines a nice extra or necessary ritual?

Swap your nightly drink with a nightly walk and watch how little changes can make a big difference.

4. No Motivation.

A loss of motivation for tackling projects, reaching targets and even getting out of bed can indicate burnout.

Try to re-ignite those go get ‘em fires by remembering why you originally chose that job, industry or lifestyle. You don’t need a 10-day yoga package or a visit to the third world to feel grateful.

Listen to how mindless eating can be a coping mechanism for stress.