(And What I’ve Learned About How It Shows Up in the Body)
by Matthew Celestial

I started researching burnout because I was living it.

At the time, I thought it was just the realities of adulthood and I was just tired. I’d been working nonstop, skipping meals, staying up late and running on adrenaline. But no matter how much I slept or how many to-do lists I crossed off, I didn’t feel better. I didn’t even feel like me

So I began reading everything I could. I'd cycle through articles, scientific journals, wellness forums, even clinical studies on cortisol, inflammation and nervous system dysregulation. I obsessed over the signs. What I found changed how I think about skincare, recovery and what “wellness” actually means.

We have to change the way we think about burnout. Shifting away from the feeling as a "mindset" and consider it a "full-body condition". As we know, our bodies will often sound the alarm long before our minds catch up. So, why not educate ourselves on what to look out for so we can begin doing the work before it's too late?

Here are ten physical signs of burnout I wish I had known sooner—and what I’ve learned (and tested) that can help.

  • YOU'RE ALWAYS TIRED—EVEN AFTER SLEEP.

Feeling tired after eight hours of sleep isn’t normal. This should be a red flag if you've been feeling this consistently. Chronic stress can throw off your HPA axis (the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), a system responsible for regulating energy, cortisol and recovery.

According to the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, this dysregulation leads to fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest. I’ve personally found that establishing a solid sleep hygiene routine requires more exploration, experimentation and validation. Don't be afraid to enhance the entire experience. Because what matters even more is how you signal your body to downshift. To you, that might mean: magnesium spray, blue light blockers and maybe a cleansing routine that is simplified (hello, Function Flow Cleanser). 

  • YOUR BODY FEELS TIGHT. ALL THE TIME. 

Before I even recognized my mental burnout, I noticed my jaw was clenched and my shoulders felt locked in place, all the time, and everywhere I went. According to the American Psychological Association, muscle tension is a classic somatic symptom of chronic stress. It tends to show up in the shoulders, jaw and neck due to sustained sympathetic nervous system activation.

Now, I make time for facial massage every night, especially around my jaw and temples. I’ve also started testing recovery tools like massage balls and stretch routines—and I’m currently exploring partnerships with somatic practitioners and movement therapists to deepen this work. Most importantly, sometimes, I'll stop what I'm doing, breathe and stretch.

  • BREAKOUTS, REDNESS OR SKIN THAT REACTS TO EVERYTHING
There are two facts that we're always told. Your skin is the largest organ that you have. And it's also one of the first places stress shows up. During burnout, cortisol can compromise your skin barrier, increase inflammation and trigger breakouts or sensitivity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology explains that psychological stress can lead to increased transepidermal water loss, making skin more vulnerable. This experience led me to formulate the Quantum Mud Mask, something cooling, non-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory. It was the first product I made that helped me feel better. 
  • BRAIN FOG OR TROUBLE FOCUSING
Do you ever have those moments when you just can't think straight? Too much is going on. Both the stress and the exhaustion (from the stress) results in our inability to think straight. Stress-induced brain fog is more than distraction. It can actually be very dangerous if you're doing an important task like driving.

According to the NIH and Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, prolonged cortisol exposure affects brain regions responsible for memory and focus. I started treating my fog like a neuroinflammatory issue, not a productivity problem. This is important. Hydration helped. So did breaking work into 25-minute sprints, along with power naps, if needed. More on these strategies in future post. Currently, I'm experimenting with L-theanine and nootropics, and I’d love to partner with brands in this space in the future. 
  • DIGESTIVE ISSUES YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN
Stress hit my stomach hard. Bloating, loss of appetite and sensitivity to foods I usually tolerated all appeared at once. The link between stress and digestion is well-documented. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology notes that chronic stress can alter vagal tone, gut motility and even microbiota balance.

For me, warm, easily digestible meals helped, along with slowing down, chewing mindfully and avoiding screens during meals. I’m actively seeking collaborations with functional dietitians focused on gut-brain recovery.
  • YOU'RE NOT SLEEPING OR YOU'RE SLEEPING TOO MUCH (AND STILL TIRED)
Burnout disrupted my sleep in both directions. Some nights I couldn’t fall asleep at all. Others, I’d crash for ten hours and wake up feeling worse. According to Sleep Medicine Reviews, stress impairs your circadian rhythm and reduces REM sleep—the phase crucial for emotional regulation. 

My solution? Ditching the phone after 9PM, adding wind-down lighting, and washing my face under soft light with products that feel gentle but grounding. I also started designing a bedroom yoga practice that would help me slowly calm down. 
  • YOU'RE SENSITIVE TO NOISE, LIGHT OR STIMULATION
When burnout peaks, even everyday noise can feel overwhelming. Frontiers in Psychology reports that chronic stress heightens sensory reactivity, making light, sound and crowds feel more intense. 

I found this especially true in the mornings. I began creating a sensory-buffered environment: lighting candles instead of switching on overheads, keeping sound minimal and using calming textures during my skincare.
  • YOU FEEL FLAT, NUMB OR IRRITABLE
Emotional flatness was one of the most alarming symptoms for me. I wasn’t sad, I was blank. The World Health Organization classifies burnout as involving depersonalization and emotional blunting. It’s your brain protecting you.

What helped was slowly rebuilding connection through small rituals: noticing texture, breathing in scent, applying moisturizer with presence. It was never about looking good. It was about coming back into my body.
  • YOU'RE GETTING SICK MORE OFTEN
Burnout lowers immunity. I got sick more frequently and healed more slowly.

Research in Psychoneuroendocrinology confirms that chronic stress suppresses immune response, reducing natural killer cell activity. This was a wake-up call. I began focusing on restorative routines and eliminating energy leaks. 
  • YOUR SKIN JUST FEELS "OFF"
Sometimes it wasn’t breakouts or dryness—my skin just felt off.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology explains that stress disrupts skin homeostasis and barrier repair, making it feel reactive or dull. I stopped chasing results and started simplifying. Fewer products. More hydration. Matte Equation was built for this exact need: skincare that doesn’t overstimulate, but supports your body when you need it most.

The body is always communicating. You just have to learn how to listen. Burnout isn’t failure. It’s a survival response. And recovery doesn’t need to be extreme. It can start with something small: a pause, a breath, a product that feels good on your skin. That’s the heart of Matte Equation.

** Looking to get started with building a self-care regime that works for you? Start by using our Quantum Mud Mask

Matthew D. Celestial