It hit me while waiting in line for a coffee I didn’t even want—just needed.
I’d been up since 5:45, answering emails on my phone before I even rolled
out of bed, juggling deadlines before breakfast, shoving toast in my mouth
between calendar invites. And by 10:00 AM, I already felt like I was falling
behind.
When the barista called my name, I nodded, smiled, took the cup, and thought: Is this really just... it?
Because I’m tired. But not the kind a nap can fix.
The Burnout We Don’t Talk About Anymore
It’s wild how burnout used to be this buzzy concept people posted about
during lockdowns or job transitions. Now, it’s not a phase—it’s the baseline.
People aren’t dramatically quitting anymore. They’re staying because they
have to, heads down, teeth clenched, wondering if it’ll ever feel different.
Burnout doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it just whispers, every day:
- “Keep pushing.”
- “Don’t drop the ball.”
- “Try harder.”
It doesn’t care how good your job is or how flexible your hours are. You
can have a stable income, a cozy home, a relatively quiet life—and still feel
like you’re being slowly hollowed out.
“How Are You?” Is a Loaded Question
I’ve noticed people answer that question differently now.
No one says, “Great!” or “Amazing!” without a half-laugh or eyeroll. We
say things like “Busy,” “Hanging in,” or “Just trying to get through the week.”
Even when we catch up with friends, there’s an edge to our check-ins. A
tiredness behind the jokes. A sigh in the silence. We’re showing up—but barely.
Screens, Noise, and No Off-Switch
Sometimes I wonder if part of the problem is that everything follows
us home now.
Work pings after hours. News blasts anxiety across your feed. Your phone
lights up even when you’re lying in bed, trying to escape it all.
I used to think I was bad at relaxing. Now I think maybe the world just
isn’t built for it anymore.
The constant input makes your brain feel like a browser with too many tabs
open. And no matter how many you close, there’s always another notification
popping up.
The “Self-Care” That Doesn’t Really Work
Look, I love a good face mask as much as the next person. But somewhere
along the line, “self-care” turned into just another thing to check off the
list.
Drink water. Meditate. Journal. Walk. Stretch. Sleep. Repeat.
But how are you supposed to recharge in 10 minutes between Zoom meetings?
Or during your 15-minute break when your kid needs help with homework and your
laundry still isn’t done?
Sometimes self-care feels like one more thing you’re failing at.
Tiny Moments That Keep Me Going
Still, there are small things I’ve started holding on to—the stuff that reminds
me I’m human, not a machine.
- A morning walk before the world
wakes up.
- Silence in the car with no
podcast, no news—just breath.
- A weekend with my phone on “Do
Not Disturb.”
- Watching my dog chase his tail
like he has no concept of stress.
- Saying “no” to plans and not
apologizing.
These aren’t big wins. But they help.
They help me remember I’m not broken for feeling overwhelmed. I’m just
alive in a world that never stops asking for more.
Work Feels Like a Relationship on the Rocks
There used to be pride in hustle. That sense of identity tied to your
job, your title, your LinkedIn profile.
Now, work feels different. Like a relationship where you still care, but
the spark is gone. You show up. You perform. But part of you is quietly asking,
Is this worth it?
I’ve stopped measuring my worth by productivity. Some days, the best
thing I do is close the laptop and step outside.
And honestly? That might be more valuable than any finished spreadsheet
or client deliverable.
Conversations Are Changing
One thing I am grateful for is how people are starting to talk
about this more honestly.
Friends are sharing that they’re in therapy, taking meds, setting harder
boundaries. People are admitting they’re tired—not just physically, but
spiritually.
Even in workplaces, I’ve seen small changes. Mental health days. Slower
Fridays. Bosses checking in with genuine concern instead of performance
metrics.
It’s not perfect. But it’s a start.
There’s No “Fix”—Just Better Coping
I used to think burnout was a sign I was doing something wrong.
That if I just worked smarter, managed time better, found the “right”
routine, I’d feel okay again.
But now I see it differently.
Burnout isn’t personal failure. It’s a reflection of systems,
expectations, and environments that demand too much for too little return. It’s
emotional fatigue masquerading as laziness. It’s chronic stress without a clear
off-ramp.
So now, I’m not trying to fix myself. I’m trying to be kind to myself
while I move through it.
Some Days Are Still Beautiful
Not every day is gray.
There are moments that surprise me—when a song hits just right, when a
friend sends a thoughtful text, when I laugh so hard I forget why I was upset
in the first place.
There’s beauty tucked inside the burnout. And while I’m still tired,
still trying, I haven’t stopped believing things can get better.
Not just for me—but for all of us.
Because We’re All in This Together
If there’s one truth I keep coming back to, it’s this: No one really has
it all figured out.
We’re all waking up, pushing through, resting when we can. We’re all
quietly checking in with ourselves, wondering how long we can sustain this
pace.
But in the middle of all this tiredness, there’s connection. There’s
humor. There’s resilience.
We may be burned out—but we’re not burned through.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough for now.
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