Why your job is draining your energy and what the warning signs most people miss are trying to tell you

Do you feel exhausted in the morning before your working day has even begun? The alarm clock rings, you drag yourself out of bed like a zombie, and just the thought of your work causes stress or even stomach ache. Perhaps it is the sheer volume of tasks that overwhelms you. Perhaps it is conflicts, a lack of appreciation or an environment that is not good for you. Your body has long been sounding the alarm, showing you signs of fatigue, tension or inner emptiness.

You want to finally feel balanced, content and full of energy again. Instead, work stresses you out, your job drags you down and exhausts you. And you ask yourself: How can I change this? From my experience in supporting people through career change processes, I know that lack of energy, powerlessness and loss of motivation are common occurrences when you are in the wrong job. And that is exactly what can be solved.

If you want to understand why dissatisfaction and exhaustion keep cropping up and why even holidays no longer recharge your batteries properly, you need to identify the root cause. It's not just that you have too many tasks. Often, the deeper issue is that you are working against your own values, needs and boundaries, and that your job and environment are not right for you.

This is exactly where this article comes in. I will show you the 12 biggest mistakes at work that drain your energy and how to avoid them. You will learn what has been holding you back and what steps will help you regain your strength. This is precisely why it is so important to identify the causes. Only those who understand why they are exhausted can take targeted countermeasures. It may sound complicated at first, but it is not at all.

Mistake No. 1: You ignore your body's warning signals

Your body sends you clear messages, but you don't listen. Headaches, tension, sleep problems or stomach problems are not trivial matters, but serious warning signs. You constantly feel like you need a holiday, but even after taking some time off, you hardly feel rested and are already counting down the days until your next holiday.

You sit in the office, struggling through a task, and your head is already completely overloaded. Instead of taking a break, you reach for your third coffee, just to somehow keep going. Your body is crying out for rest, but you ignore it. It's like sitting in your car with the fuel gauge flashing red, and instead of filling up, you press the accelerator even harder until the car eventually breaks down.

Are you one of those people who make this mistake? You think it's ‘normal’ to go through everyday life constantly exhausted and tense. But that's not true. Your body is not against you, it is your most important ally. If you don't listen to its signals, it will only send them more clearly and painfully.

Mistake No. 2: You stay too long in a situation that is harmful to you

Deep down, you know that this job is no longer right for you. And yet you go back tomorrow. You stay in a job that isn't good for you. You endure situations that are frustrating but familiar because change is exhausting and the unknown is scary. Day after day, you go to work, struggle through tasks, feel demotivated and drained of energy. Perhaps you half-heartedly look around for other jobs, but in the end you do nothing because you can't bring yourself to apply. You know somehow that you're not in the right place and that this situation isn't good for you in the long run, and yet you don't change anything.

The familiar provides security, even if it's annoying. You know the routines, your colleagues, the challenges, and everything is at least predictable. And if you're completely honest with yourself, staying put is also largely due to your own comfort. The unknown seems risky, even though it could be exactly what you need to move forward.

How often do you tell your friends about your job frustrations or complain at home, yet still carry on as usual? That is precisely the mistake.

Mistake No. 3: You don't set boundaries

New project? Sure. Presentation for the boss, even though it's long past quitting time? No problem. Organising a farewell gift for a colleague? Of course you'll do that.

Every yes that doesn't come from a place of conviction is a no to yourself. Sometimes it's because you're afraid of disappointing someone. Sometimes it's because you want to please. Sometimes it's just a habit of always being the one who takes care of things.

Setting boundaries is something you can learn. One of my favourite sayings on this topic is: No is a complete sentence. Period.

Mistake No. 4: You neglect what is truly beneficial for you

In the evening, you lie exhausted on the sofa with your mobile phone in your hand. Three hours of scrolling, a series, somehow killing time. And your sports bag has been sitting untouched in the corner since Tuesday.

You're no longer really receptive and just let yourself be bombarded with information. Scrolling on your mobile phone is not relaxation. It's a time-waster, an automatic behaviour that has crept in because you're too tired for anything else. But it doesn't recharge your batteries.

At the same time, you cancel meeting up with friends because you have something urgent to finish at work. Your planned jog is postponed until the day after tomorrow. And then again. And somehow, again and again.

The things that really nourish you – exercise, good conversations, nature, creativity – need a fixed place in your week. Not sometime. When was the last time you thought after an activity: That really did me good?

Mistake No. 5: You are afraid of change

Somewhere deep down, you know that something has to change. And that thought alone stresses and overwhelms you. That's perfectly human and understandable, especially when you're at the end of your tether.

Our brains are designed to avoid risk. The familiar provides security, while the unknown triggers discomfort. Evolutionarily, that made sense. In everyday working life, it ensures that you remain in familiar frustration, because at least that is predictable.

But the longer you wait, the harder it gets. The tension grows. Your energy decreases.

And then there are those thoughts: What if it goes wrong? What if everything gets even worse? These inner disaster scenarios feel real. But most of the time, they are not. What we imagine in advance is almost always more dramatic than what actually happens.

Seneca put it this way: It is not because it is difficult that we do not dare, but because we do not dare that it is difficult. Those who take a step anyway usually realise that the unknown was not so threatening after all. Instead, it is often full of possibilities that were simply not foreseeable before.

Mistake No. 6: You believe that perseverance is a strength

You're used to pushing through. Maybe you're even proud of it. You come to the office when you're sick, work overtime, drag yourself through projects because they have to be finished. You call it commitment. Your body calls it overexertion.

Perseverance sounds like strength. But it isn't when you systematically put yourself last. Overtime isn't bonus points that you can redeem at some point. It's more like a loan with very high interest rates. And the bill will come. Always.

Mistake No. 7: You constantly compare yourself to others

‘My colleague manages everything.’ ‘Others have even more stress.’ ‘I'm not allowed to complain.’

Thoughts like these hold you back. Your benchmark should not be what others endure, but what is good for you. Just because someone ‘functions’ with a 60-hour week and three hours of sleep does not mean that you should too.

Mistake No. 8: You don't seek support

You think: I have to do this on my own. You find it difficult to ask for help. Maybe because you're just used to taking care of things yourself. Maybe because it feels wrong to admit that you're not doing well right now. You're competent, you're resilient, and you don't want to expose yourself by admitting that you don't have everything under control.

Which, by the way, would be completely human. To say sometimes: I can't handle all this right now and it's all too much for me.

When your car breaks down, you take it to the garage. You don't spend hours staring helplessly under the bonnet, hoping that it will somehow repair itself. Why should it be any different with your own life?

Seeking support doesn't mean you're a failure. Sometimes it's the smartest thing you can do: admit that you need help right now and actually get it.

Mistake No. 9: You wait for the perfect moment

‘When this project is over, then...’ ‘After my next holiday, I'll start...’ ‘When I've saved enough money, then...’

The perfect moment will never come. There is always a deadline, an obligation, a ‘not yet’. Those who wait lose time, and sometimes years. The question is: how long do you want to wait? Until your body finally gives up?

Mistake No. 10: You define your worth based on performance and job title

‘I'm a the head of department x, so that counts.’ ‘My contract is great, so I can't complain.’ I have excellent conditions here, or I simply earn really well and have many benefits in my job.

But if the outside façade shines while you are totally unhappy inside, something is wrong. Your self-worth should not depend on your job title, but on whether you are healthy, fulfilled and in your power.

Mistake No. 11: You think self-care is selfish

‘I can't go to yoga or volleyball, I still have so much to do and urgently need to finish something.’ ‘I don't have time for lunch, there's just too much going on.’ How often do you eat quickly at your computer or grab a snack in between because you don't have time for a proper lunch break? ‘I can't leave on time when my colleagues are still here.’

Yes, you can. Self-care is not a luxury, but the foundation for staying healthy, productive and happy in the long term. Those who ignore it will pay the price later, guaranteed.

Mistake No. 12: You don't take action

You have known for a long time that something needs to change, yet you do nothing. You hope that a miracle will happen and the situation will resolve itself. But let me be blunt: you could be waiting a long time.

The truth is, not making a decision is also a decision, namely to remain where you are and do nothing. Sure, change can be scary and uncomfortable. But if you don't do anything, you'll only become more dissatisfied, frustrated and unhappy. Some people have to hit rock bottom before they really take action.

And now the question for you: are you one of those people who needs a wake-up call, or do you start before it really hurts?

Conclusion: Your body already knows

All these mistakes have one thing in common: they keep you trapped in a life that exhausts you instead of fulfilling you. Your body has been sending you signals for a long time, and deep down you probably know that things cannot go on like this.

The question is: what will happen if you just carry on as before? Where will you be in a year's time? Probably still tired, frustrated and exhausted, right? Or will you decide now to stop sugar-coating your situation and make a change?

Counterexample: Imagine waking up in a year's time feeling happy, enjoying going to work, feeling fulfilled and sensing that your job finally suits you and your life. Yes, it is possible. But only if you take the first step.

You don't have to go down this path alone. I accompany people through career reorientation and help them find out which job really suits them. Perhaps you would like to book an initial consultation to see how I can support you in this process. Click here.

And if you are still unsure where exactly your energy loss lies, download my job satisfaction scale here. It will help you quickly identify which areas of your job are draining your energy and where you can start to noticeably increase your job satisfaction.