Problems · Burnout

Rebuild energy without quitting everything.

Burnout doesn't go away with a long weekend. It's an energy debt that compounds, and recovering takes deliberate changes to how you work, rest and recover. The good news: people do come back from it, often stronger.

Common symptoms

  • Cynicism about work you used to care about
  • Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix
  • Reduced performance and concentration
  • Withdrawing from people
  • Physical symptoms — headaches, gut issues, frequent illness

Common causes

  • Sustained overwork without recovery
  • Lack of control over your time
  • Values mismatch with your role
  • Poor managerial support
  • Identity fused with productivity

Practical improvements

Start with one. Run it for two weeks. Then add another.

Take real rest, not productive rest

Recovery isn't another optimisation project. Boredom, walks, naps, friends.

Audit your week

Where does energy leak? One honest week of tracking reveals more than a year of guessing.

Have the conversation at work

Workload, scope, expectations. Most managers want to know — they just can't read minds.

Work with a coach or therapist

A trained outside perspective shortens recovery dramatically.

Rebuild basics first

Sleep, food, movement, sunlight. Don't skip to the advanced stuff.

Related categories

Find help locally