Notice how burnout stories usually start with the breakdown part? When in actuality, they start unassumingly. With people just pushing through. Then, pushing past. For a while maybe. Until something gives.
Lately, burnout stories have become more common and more urgent. One leader spoke of a season when she was working constantly, always traveling, never stopping. She literally wore herself out. One morning, her body completely shut down. She had to be hospitalized. Unbeknownst to her: her body had been asking for rest for years. But she hadn’t heard it until it was too late.
And then there’s the recently retired executive describing how he’s been feeling after finally having time just to be. “I didn’t know how heavy the load was until I put it down,” he said.
Another high performer made a deliberate choice to walk away, leaving their role with nothing else in place, simply knowing they just couldn’t keep going the way they were. It wasn’t easy, but they say they’re more grounded now, even with all the uncertainty that followed.
These kinds of stories seem to be coming from everywhere. And they’re part of a pattern across industries, roles, and levels. People are carrying more than they should have to, and for the most part, they don’t even realize it until they’re at (or over) the borderline of burnout.
Read more here.
