Burnout: What We Don't Talk About Enough

Burnout isn’t just about being tired—it’s the kind of chronic stress that sneaks in, lingers too long, and slowly chips away at your health and well-being. The World Health Organization calls it a syndrome that stems from prolonged stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.

And here’s the kicker: burnout isn’t just about lost productivity or low morale. It can take a heavy toll on the body, amplifying risks for diseases like stroke, cancer, and autoimmune conditions. In other words, burnout is serious business.

Prior to the Covid pandemic, Gallup found that one in four workers report feeling burnout very often or always. Holy smokes! Add in today’s challenges—blurred boundaries between home and work, caregiving responsibilities, new leadership or the weight of ongoing uncertainty—and the conditions are ripe for exhaustion to spiral.

We may not know how long certain pressures will stick around, but here’s what we do know: adopting even one or two healthy self-management strategies can be a game-changer—for you, and for the people who count on you.

The heavy toll of burnout is the stress that quietly erodes our capacity to thrive.

4 Strategies to Try

1. Tune in to your body.Check in on your energy levels. Are you waking up refreshed or already depleted? Noticing early signals allows you to course-correct.

   
   

2. Get boundaried.Protect your sleep, food, and calendar. Say “yes” to more rest, nourishing meals, and white space on your schedule.

   
   

3. Lean on your circle.Tell trusted friends, family, or colleagues if you’re struggling. Invite them to notice changes in you—and be ready to notice changes in them, too.

   
   

4. Seek professional help.Every great leader I know has a coach, a therapist…or both. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s one of the bravest moves you can make.

As leaders, we carry a lot and yet, a dried out well has no water. In other words, you can only give to others from the abundance of what you have.

So do the right thing—prioritize your sustainability. We need you!