How do I know if I'm burnt out from caregiving or just having a bad week?

Burnout is less about a single hard day and more about a wearing away of yourself over time. It's when you notice you're running on fumes consistently—when small frustrations hit harder than they should, when you feel distant from the person you're caring for, or when the work that once felt meaningful now just feels like obligation. The difference is duration and depth. A bad week passes; burnout lingers. Pay attention to your inner life here. Are you irritable more often than not? Do you dread tasks that used to feel manageable? Are you neglecting your own needs without even realizing it? These are signals worth listening to. I'd suggest sitting quietly for a few minutes and asking yourself: "What would it feel like to take a real break?" If the thought brings relief rather than guilt, that's telling you something important. Burnout thrives in silence, so naming it—even just to yourself—is the first step toward actually addressing it. You might not be able to change your caregiving situation immediately, but you can change how you relate to it, and that shift matters deeply.