3 ways your body is letting you know you’re experiencing burnout, from a psychologist

Juggling a job, social responsibilities, and taking care of yourself and your family can take a toll on your mental health. If you're taking on more than you can handle, your body may warn you that burnout is on the horizon. However, burnout isn't exactly a mental health diagnosis, says Molly Burrets, a licensed clinical psychologist. "It's more of a chronic condition that happens when we experience chronic fatigue [and] overwhelm when the demands of our life exceed our capacity to meet those demands," she tells CNBC Make It, adding that it can increase your likelihood of experiencing mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Spotting the signs of burnout is key for preventing it or reversing it. Burrets says the symptoms of burnout come in three categories: physical, emotional, and behavioral. Physical symptoms include chronic fatigue, insomnia, frequent headaches, muscle pain, digestive issues, and a weakened immune system. Emotional symptoms include increased irritability, loss of motivation, feeling detached or emotionally drained, and negative feelings about work or caregiving responsibilities. Behavioral symptoms can manifest as procrastination, withdrawal from social responsibilities, isolation from others, and lower levels of productivity, especially at work.

To reverse burnout, Burrets recommends consulting with your doctor to rule out any underlying health conditions. Once you've done that, she suggests reducing your workload to make time for more self-care activities, such as exercise, quality time with friends and family, a new hobby, meditation, and mindfulness practices. It's important to identify and remove any inessential demands on your time, even if it's difficult, to improve your well-being. "We have to have boundaries to prevent burnout," Burrets says.