Burnout in High-Stakes Careers: 5 Early Signs Lawyers and Physicians Miss

Burnout doesn’t always start with collapse — sometimes, it creeps in quietly, hidden behind high performance.

Here are 5 early warning signs many high-stakes professionals miss:

1. Emotional exhaustion feels normal. You’re tired — but not just physically.

2. Cynicism or detachment about work creeps in.

3. Sense of inefficacy — feeling you’re not accomplishing enough, despite working hard.

4. Neglecting personal needs — sleep, exercise, relationships take a back seat.

5. Increased irritability — small setbacks provoke big reactions.

For lawyers, physicians, and other high-stakes professionals, these symptoms are easy to dismiss as “part of the job.”

But burnout is not a rite of passage — it’s a signal for change.

Recognizing these signs early can mean the difference between proactive recovery and complete exhaustion.

🔗 Learn more about early intervention and recovery strategies inside The Burnout Reset Course.