Have you ever felt that your life is out of balance on one area or another, and that certain responsibilities are becoming overwhelming? That you desperately need a break, or that you're "done"? (If so, you're not alone--most of us feel that way at some point in our lives, myself included.) This is, however, an important sign that shouldn't be ignored. If you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed, your emotions are likely trying to tell you that something needs to change. Depending on the severity of the situation, the change required can range from something small--a few hours with a good friend, for example, to a medium-sized change--like cutting back on some activities to make room for new hobbies, friendships or volunteer work, to major change--switching jobs, moving, or making another major lifestyle change.
It's important to pay attention to your feelings because, if you ignore what your emotions are trying to tell you through feelings of overwhelm at this point, you could be headed toward burnout--a situation where you're less energetic and creative, and you can't bring yourself to work with the same passion you once had. Interestingly, even the stress of good things in your life (eustress) can pile up and begin to feel like too much, though burnout generally comes from a set of very specific circumstances.
What factors put you at greater risk of burnout? See the following resources to better understand your burnout risk and what can be done to combat burnout. (More to come later this weekend.)
Need more info?
http://stress.about.com/b/2009/10/12/burnout-im-done.htm
