The Top 5 Causes of Burnout (And How to Fix It)

Burnout and fatigue are common problems for athletes, especially those who constantly push themselves to the limit (or don’t place enough emphasis on rest).

While the concept of “burnout” is subjective and its causes can be multifaceted, the fundamental issue remains consistent: an imbalance between excessive stress and inadequate recovery.

In this context, stress manifests both as physically demanding training and the mentally draining pressures we often hear about.

Here are the top five causes of burnout – and how to fix it naturally:

1. Increased Stress Hormones

Under extreme or prolonged periods of excessive stress, your body produces increased levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These stress hormones can cause increased feelings of tension, restlessness, and irritability. They can also cause fatigue, muscle soreness, and reduced sleep quality.

2. Endocrine System Disruption

Maintaining healthy levels of testosterone is vital to achieving stress-free energy and performance. Especially for natural athletes who use only natural substances to support recovery. When athletes are overtrained or have accumulated stress, their testosterone levels can decrease. This can lead to fatigue, decreased muscle mass, and increased risk of injury.

3. Overactive Inflammatory Response

Our bodies need inflammation to help clear dead tissue and bring life-giving nutrients to muscles and joints for repair. But when burnout is knocking on your door, this can lead to an overactive inflammatory response throughout your entire body. This increases pain sensitivity, tissue damage, and decreases overall endurance and stamina.

4. Impaired Immune Function

The same stress hormones that dampen mood and increase resting tension levels also suppress immune function, leading to an increased susceptibility to getting sick. No amount of vitamin C or herbal remedies will bolster your immune system if stress hormones are weighing it down day after day.

5. Sleep Deprivation

Despite perpetual fatigue, sleep quality (and quantity) is one of the first vital processes to suffer when you're burned out. An overactive sympathetic nervous system makes it difficult to fall asleep – and stay asleep. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle of fatigue, poor sleep quality, and increased feelings of tension and restlessness.

Any combination of these factors can lead to lack of energy, feelings of decreased motivation, and moodiness. These affect not just your athletic performance, but how you show up in everyday life. This is tricky because issues like irritability and moodiness can be written off as "mental" issues when they are really being caused by physiological and hormonal disruptions.

Navigating burnout and overtraining – characterized by perpetual exhaustion, persistent soreness, and sleepless nights – is a familiar struggle for many athletes.

And while many supplements claim to mitigate the side effects of stress or improve recovery, we couldn’t find any that address burnout at its root – the systemic level.

So, we formulated our own.

The #1 Natural Formula for Burned-Out Athletes

Dedicated athletes understand the significance of a deload – that critical period where you dial back on intensity to repair, recover, and stave off burnout.

But imagine if the benefits of a deload period – relief, recovery, and rejuvenation – could be encapsulated in a bottle?

That’s precisely what we did with Adaptogen Greens™.

Just as a deload prioritizes recovery for improved performance, our carefully formulated blend of adaptogenic herbs is designed to counteract fatigue, rejuvenate your body and mind, and help unlock your peak performance potential.

Think of Adaptogen Greens™ as your daily deload – ensuring you're constantly nourished, protected, and ready to perform.

Click the button below to learn how Adaptogen Greens™ can help you break the burnout cycle, build real-world resilience, and unlock your true potential.