Running low rarely announces itself. It creeps in: a shorter fuse, dreading work you used to enjoy, trouble sleeping, a sense of going through the motions, or the feeling that nothing you do is ever enough. These are not character flaws. They are signals, the same way hunger or tiredness are signals, that you need to refill.

Learn your own early signs and treat them as information rather than judgment. When you notice them, that is the moment to be gentle with yourself and make one small change, instead of pushing harder until there is nothing left. And if the heaviness is deep or will not lift, please reach out to your campus employee assistance program or a counselor. Asking for help is a sign of strength.