5 signs of burnout
By iNSPIRE Sport
Burnout is unfortunately a common occurrence in sport that leads to many athletes walking away from their sporting careers for the wrong reasons. This does not have to be the case and it was a huge motivation for us when creating the iNSPIRE Movement! It is often preventable if caught on early enough. This blog discusses the 5 signs of burnout and what you can do to prevent further complications.
Decline in performance
One of the most obvious signs of burnout is a decline in performance – both in training and competition. A poor performance is often a direct consequence of mental and physical fatigue and is usually an obvious indicator that you are doing too much/overworking yourself. If you notice that you are struggling with workload and/or juggling other commitments, speak to your coach or a trusted person about taking a period of time where you do a bit less.
Lack of interest
When an athlete begins to lose interest in their chosen sport, it can be another example of burnout symptoms. There are many causes that make people lose interest such as schooling or life commitments, finding something else or simply the sport is not something you enjoy anymore. All of these are valid reasons and there is no shame in finishing your athletic career, but it should be for the right reasons. Often people relate a negative experience with burnout to the sport itself which creates a negative relationship. It is important to remember that sport doesn’t cause burnout, poor management and being overworked does.
Constant fatigue or recurring injuries
Injuries and fatigue are expected to a degree at any level in sport. However, there comes a point where a certain amount of either or both is a warning for something else going on. Overtraining can be extremely detrimental to athlete well being and performance. This goes hand-in-hand with a decline in performance and you need to talk to someone trusted about both.
Mood fluctuations
Everyone has a bad mood here and then. Everyone also experiences mood swings. When is too many and at what point is it of concern? If you find yourself feeling down or inconsistent for an extended period of time (let’s say for more than a few days), there is likely a reason for it. While it may not be because of an issue at training, external factors can also overwhelm you and lead to burnout. Communicating how you are feeling on a daily basis to your coach and/or teammates is super important.
Difficulty completing the everyday aspects of training
If you are struggling with completing the everyday tasks of training, this can be telling that you might be enduring mental burnout/fatigue. Similar to mood fluctuations, daily tasks can sometimes be hard if you are having a rough day. However, this should not become a regular occurrence. It may be hard for an athlete to speak up about burn out. If you see any of your teammates showing these signs, be sure to reach out to them
There are many ways that athlete burnout can be prevented and managed. A fantastic article published by The Washington regarding burnout and how to overcome it can be found here
You can find more tips like these on the iNSPIRE Sport app – see for yourself via the links below.
