5 Subtle Signs of Burnout (Even If You’re High-Functioning)

Ana Lilia
May 28
2 min read

Updated: 22 hours ago

Sacred Lessons Men's Healing Circle in LA

Burnout doesn’t always show up as total collapse. Sometimes it whispers.

It moves quietly through your day, wearing the face of fatigue, disconnection, or forgetfulness—while everything around you still looks “fine.”

This is what I call a burnout flare-up—a state where your body and nervous system are sending quiet signals that something’s off, even if your mind is telling you to keep pushing through.

If you’re someone who’s used to doing it all, these signs can be easy to dismiss. But tuning in early can save you from a much deeper crash.

Here are five signs your body might be in a burnout flare-up:

1. You’re Getting Rest, But Still Waking Up Tired

Your body is in bed, but your nervous system hasn’t powered down.

Even with a full night’s sleep, you wake up feeling like you ran a marathon in your dreams.

You’re not lazy. You’re wired.

Your system might still be on high alert, even when you’re supposed to be resting.

2. You Feel Disconnected from Things That Usually Light You Up

The hobbies, rituals, and relationships that once felt nourishing now feel like effort.

Even joy feels… muted.

This doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful. It means your system is conserving energy the only way it knows how—by shutting down what it sees as non-essential.

3. You Keep Telling Yourself, “I Just Need to Get Through This Week”

But the finish line keeps moving.

There’s always something next.

Another project.

Another deadline.

Another “after this, I’ll rest.”

Except… rest never really comes.

Burnout often lives in that almost there loop—where your capacity shrinks while your expectations stay the same.

4. Little Things Feel Surprisingly Heavy

You find yourself more reactive. More drained by small decisions.More overwhelmed by things that usually wouldn’t faze you.

This can be a sign your system is maxed out—operating without the capacity it needs to regulate or respond calmly.

5. Your Brain Feels Foggy, Even When You’re Doing Less

You forget what you walked into the room for. You zone out mid-conversation. You struggle to focus on basic tasks.

This isn’t you being “off your game”—this is your nervous system trying to protect you by pulling your energy inward.

Burnout Is a Nervous System Issue, Too

It’s not just emotional. It shows up in your body. It disrupts your sleep, clouds your clarity, tightens your chest, and dulls your joy.

Burnout flare-ups are your body’s quiet call for a reset—not just more sleep or a longer weekend, but a deeper kind of restoration. One rooted in presence, nervous system safety, and permission to feel.

This is the work I do inside my 1:1 coaching container—helping high-functioning women gently unravel the patterns that led to burnout in the first place and build something more sustainable from the inside out.