21 Unmistakable Signs That Your Job is Toasting You to Crispiness

7. Your Motivation Has Gone Up in Smoke

What once excited or challenged you at work now feels like a chore. Tasks that used to be satisfying now seem pointless, and you’re struggling to care about meeting goals. Even external pressures—like job security or deadlines—might not be enough to push you into action. If you feel like you’re just going through the motions, burnout may have drained your drive to succeed. Losing motivation isn’t just about having an "off" day or feeling uninspired once in a while. Burnout can slowly chip away at your enthusiasm until even the idea of starting a new project feels exhausting. You might procrastinate more than usual, staring blankly at your screen instead of tackling tasks. Maybe you used to go the extra mile, but now you’re just doing the bare minimum to get by. Even rewards that once excited you—like promotions, raises, or praise from your boss—no longer bring any sense of accomplishment. The deeper burnout sets in, the harder it becomes to find meaning in what you do, making every workday feel like an uphill battle with no real victory in sight.

8. You’re Using More Stimulants to Keep Up

If you’re relying on coffee, energy drinks, or even prescription stimulants to survive the workday, it could be a sign of burnout. Some people go further, turning to stronger substances like Adderall or even illicit drugs to keep up with the relentless pace. When caffeine stops working and you’re still dragging, your body is signaling that it needs a real break—not just more fuel. At first, you might not even notice how dependent you’ve become on stimulants. Maybe you used to be fine with one cup of coffee in the morning, but now you need three just to feel remotely functional. Maybe your afternoon energy crashes have become so extreme that you chug energy drinks or pop caffeine pills to make it through the last few hours. Some people start relying on prescription stimulants or nootropics to boost focus, not realizing that they’re masking the deeper problem. Others turn to alcohol or sleeping aids at night to come down from the constant overstimulation. If you feel like you can’t function without an external boost, it’s not just about needing more energy—it’s a warning sign that your body is running on empty.