Let’s be real, ladies. If burnout was a sport, most of us would be Olympic gold medalists by now. Between crushing it at work, keeping up with life’s endless to-do lists, and attempting to have a social life (or at least pretending to), we often forget one crucial thing, ourselves.

So, if you’re feeling like a human stress ball that’s been squeezed one too many times, it’s time for a reality check. Here are six telltale signs you’re overworking yourself, plus how to fix them before you spontaneously combust.

1. You Start Your Day Already Exhausted

You went to bed at a reasonable hour (or so you think), but you wake up feeling like you ran a marathon in your sleep. No amount of coffee can bring you back to life, and you start seriously considering if caffeine IV drips are a thing.

Fix It: Your body is screaming for rest, so listen to it! Prioritize sleep like you do those urgent emails. Try a bedtime routine that doesn’t involve scrolling TikTok until 2 AM. Also, power naps? Game-changer.

2. Your To-Do List is Your Worst Enemy

Every morning, you write a to-do list with 27 tasks, and by the end of the day, you’ve completed… two. You feel like a failure, even though those two tasks were huge.

Fix It: Stop setting yourself up for disappointment. Pick three non-negotiable priorities per day and focus on those. Everything else? Bonus points. Your productivity isn’t defined by how much you do but by how well you do it.

3. You Haven’t Had a Proper Meal in Days

Coffee counts as breakfast, right? And that bag of chips from the vending machine? Definitely a balanced dinner.

Fix It: Food is fuel, not an afterthought. Schedule your meals like meetings, seriously. Prep some healthy snacks to avoid reaching for junk, and maybe, just maybe, eat a vegetable today?

4. You’re Constantly on Edge (AKA One Email Away From a Meltdown)

Your coworker’s “quick question” makes you want to flip a desk. Every little inconvenience feels like the universe personally attacking you.

Fix It: When everything feels overwhelming, it’s time to step back. Take breaks, yes, even when you “don’t have time.” Go outside, breathe fresh air, scream into a pillow, whatever works. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

5. Your Hobbies? What Hobbies?

Remember when you used to paint, read, or go to yoga? Now your hobbies include answering emails at 11 PM and stress-eating ice cream.

Fix It: You’re more than your job. Reclaim your joy by blocking off time for activities that make you happy. Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, do something that’s purely for YOU.

6. You Wear “Busy” Like a Badge of Honor

When people ask how you’re doing, your automatic response is, “Ugh, so busy.” If you’re not constantly working, you feel guilty, like you’re slacking off.

Fix It: Newsflash: Rest is productive, too! Stop glorifying burnout. Start glorifying balance. Work smarter, not harder, and remember, you’re a human, not a machine.

Time for Some Tough Love:

If you see yourself in this list (and let’s be honest, you probably do), consider this your wake-up call. You deserve more than a life of exhaustion and stress. So, what’s one thing you’re going to change today to take better care of yourself? Drop a comment below and let’s start a revolution of well-rested, unstoppable women!