21 Unmistakable Signs That Your Job is Toasting You to Crispiness

15. You Fantasize About Quitting—Constantly

Daydreaming about quitting is normal once in a while, but if you’re mentally drafting your resignation letter every day, burnout is likely at play. Maybe you scroll job listings during lunch breaks, daydream about taking a long sabbatical, or even consider drastic career changes just to escape the stress. You might start calculating how long you can survive financially if you just walked away. If leaving your job is all you can think about—even when you don’t have a clear plan—it's a big sign your workplace is pushing you past your breaking point.

16. You Feel Like You’re Letting Everyone Down

Burnout can trick you into believing you’re failing—even when you’re doing your best. You might feel like you’re disappointing your boss, your coworkers, or even your family because you’re not performing at your usual level. This can lead to a vicious cycle: You feel drained, so your productivity dips. Then you beat yourself up for not working hard enough, which adds more stress. Over time, you might start believing you’re the problem instead of recognizing that burnout is making it impossible to function normally. If guilt is creeping into your daily thoughts, your job might be asking too much of you.