Burnout doesn't start with a breakdown. It starts with "I'm fine, just tired."

Here's a quick framework I use every Friday afternoon. Takes 3 minutes:

The 3-Question Reset:

1. Energy audit — Rate your energy 1-10 right now. If it's been below 5 for more than a week straight, that's not tiredness. That's your nervous system waving a red flag.

1. Sunday dread check — Do you feel a knot in your stomach thinking about Monday? Occasional = normal. Every single week = a pattern worth investigating.

1. Recovery test — When was the last time you did something that actually recharged you (not just numbed you)? If you can't remember, you're running on fumes.

Most people wait until they're completely fried before they act. The trick is catching it at stage 1, not stage 5.

I write about this stuff every week at MindShift Weekly — science-backed mental health strategies built for people who are too busy to burn out. No fluff, no toxic positivity. Just tools that work.