Here's how you can recognize when to take a break to prevent burnout as a Sales Engineer.

Do everything possible to avoid back-to-back calls, specifically anything longer than 45 minutes to 1 hour. Putting on a presentation and keeping a high level of focus and attention toward a customer is much more mentally fatiguing than you'll realize. Give yourself cushion periods ahead of and after calls to reset and recalibrate. This includes taking time to refresh your environments, review discovery notes, and ensure you aren't confusing anything or anyone. Be sure to keep up on your hydration and food throughout the day. It is far too easy to power through the day or get caught up in work without catching some time to eat or keep up with water. All of this will make a world of difference for you in the long run.

Recognizing when to take a break to prevent burnout as a Sales Engineer is crucial. Constant fatigue, even with adequate rest, is an early warning sign. Fatigue can impair your critical thinking and communication, both vital to your role. Pay attention to persistent exhaustion over several days or weeks. This may be your body’s signal to step back and recharge. Taking timely breaks helps maintain your effectiveness and overall well-being, ensuring you stay sharp and productive in your demanding role. Work life balance is the most important, work will always exist were not doctors saving lives

A drop in job performance is a clear indicator that it might be time to take a break. In sales engineering, this can manifest as increased mistakes in technical proposals or difficulty closing deals. If you notice a decline in the quality of your work or if previously manageable tasks now feel overwhelming, consider it a red flag. Addressing these issues early by taking a break can prevent further decline and help you regain your effectiveness and focus.

Wiley drop and drop performances definitely an indicated that something is not right - there may be other factors as well instead of just burn out. To really see if burnout is an issue track your progress, identify any areas you're falling behind and then uses data to decide if you need to take a break to recharge. What is important is that you measure what matters instead of just taking confirmation bias such as "my demo did not go well today so I must be burning out"

I have had the displeasure of experiencing burnout without it directly being related to work. Sometimes there are aspects within your personal life that can take over and push your ability to balance or rather integrate your work/personal life in the most efficient manner and can leave you burnt out. This can then translate over to your professional life and then you end up in a vicious cycle unless of course you recognize it and you take the necessary steps even if it means being very open with your work colleagues as to what you're going through.

"Energy flows where attention goes." Focus on maintaining high energy levels by incorporating regular breaks into your schedule. Try activities like walking, meditating, or even a quick nap to recharge. Keep your energy high and your stress low by listening to your body and mind.