Issue 2 - Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honour
The Truth You’re Avoiding…
You’re not just tired. You’re drained in a way that no weekend off or self-care ritual can fix.
You’ve been over-functioning for so long that the idea of slowing down feels uncomfortable, maybe even terrifying.
And yet… you’re struggling to focus. You feel numb where you used to feel passion. And even when you do rest, it doesn’t feel like enough.
That’s not laziness. That’s not a lack of motivation. That’s burnout.
And it’s time we start naming it for what it is: a career crisis in slow motion.
The Hidden Crisis Among High Performers
In today's relentless work culture, burnout has become an epidemic, especially among high achievers. A 2024 Mercer study revealed that 82% of U.S. workers are at risk of burnout, with female executives being particularly susceptible (marieclaire.com).
It’s a silent epidemic because most people don’t see it coming. High performers are experts at pushing through, delivering results, and masking stress with productivity.
They’re still showing up, still hitting deadlines, but inside, they’re exhausted, disconnected, and dangerously close to breaking.
Burnout isn’t just about workload. It’s about the constant emotional weight of responsibility without replenishment. It’s what happens when strong people go too long without support.
Quiet Burnout: The Hidden Danger
Burnout doesn’t always explode. Often, it fades in slowly.
You’re functioning, but disconnected. You’re showing up, but not fully present.
Signs of Quiet Burnout:
You wake up tired
You feel numb in meetings
You’re ticking boxes, not building momentum
You’ve stopped caring, but can’t stop working
If you feel stuck in a loop of exhaustion and guilt, this is your sign. It’s not a rough patch. It’s burnout. And it needs strategy, not shame.
If any of this feels familiar, I offer a powerful space to help you shift from survival to clarity.
👉 Book your Career Clarity Call today
The Perfectionism Trap
Perfectionism is a hidden accelerator of burnout. It whispers that anything less than 110% isn’t good enough, and punishes you for every pause, mistake, or slow day.
The perfectionist doesn’t rest because there’s always more to do. They don’t delegate because no one else does it right. They don’t admit exhaustion because they think it means failure.
But perfectionism is not about high standards, it’s about fear:
Fear of being seen as not enough.
Fear of being exposed as incapable.
Fear that rest equals weakness.
This mindset turns work into a performance. And eventually, the performer burns out.
To recover, you have to trade perfection for progress. You have to embrace imperfection as part of growth. You have to remind yourself: You are not your output.
Recognising the perfectionism trap is the first step to escaping it. And it’s the only way to build a career you can sustain.
My Story: From Burnout to Purpose
Before I ever became a coach, I lived this story.
I spent over two decades in a fast-paced corporate environment. On paper, I had everything. The Senior leadership roles, the salary, and the reputation. I was the go-to person, always delivering, always solving problems.
But behind the scenes? I was running on empty.
Every Monday felt heavier. Every win felt emptier. And despite giving more than 110%, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing myself in the process.
There was no dramatic collapse. Just a whisper that grew louder over time: “Is this it?”
At first, I tried to silence it by working harder. But eventually, I listened. I began exploring coaching, not as a career move, but as a lifeline. And through that journey, I discovered a deeper purpose:
Helping other high performers break free from burnout and rebuild from a place of clarity, confidence, and intention.
Writing this now, I can still feel it, those anxious Monday mornings, the restless nights, the knot in my stomach before the workday even began. It brings back the exact feelings I carried for far too long. And I know I’m not alone in that.
Because success should feel sustainable, not soul-crushing.
The Shift: From Survival to Strategy
What if your exhaustion isn’t about weakness, but misalignment?
What if your energy isn’t gone, just misused?
The shift out of burnout is not about quitting everything. It’s about:
Honouring your energy
Reclaiming your time
Leading with purpose, not pressure
Burnout isn’t a BADGE OF HONOUR! It’s a warning sign.
And if you’re feeling it?
You’re not broken. You’re not unmotivated. You are EXHAUSTED.
And you deserve better.
Ask Yourself: Are You Burnt Out or Just Busy?
Let’s make this interactive. If you’re unsure whether burnout is creeping in, here are 3 key identity shifts to watch for:
The Resilient Leader Who’s Now Running on Fumes
You used to feel driven. Now you just feel depleted. Ask: What used to energise me that now drains me?The High Achiever Who Can’t Concentrate
You used to power through with focus. Now, even simple tasks feel heavy. Ask: Where am I forcing myself to function on autopilot?The Empathetic Giver Who’s Disconnected from Joy
You were the one holding space for everyone. Now you don’t have space for yourself. Ask: When was the last time I felt truly present, fulfilled, and in control?
These aren’t just personality quirks. They’re red flags. Burnout doesn’t announce itself with fireworks. It arrives as a quiet erosion of self. So take a moment. Check in. These reflections aren’t here to judge you, they’re here to help you reclaim yourself.
Let’s take a closer look at what these burnout identities mean and why they matter:
The Resilient Leader Who’s Now Running on Fumes
This person once thrived under pressure. They were the ones others leaned on. But now, even small tasks feel like a mountain. You’re still showing up, but the spark that made you powerful is flickering.This is often caused by chronic overfunctioning. You keep saying yes, even when you're running on empty. The resilience that once defined you now disguises depletion.
The High Achiever Who Can’t Concentrate
You built your reputation on excellence. Deadlines? No problem. Problem-solving? Second nature. But lately, you’re staring at the screen, rewriting the same sentence, forgetting what day it is.This isn’t laziness. It’s cognitive fatigue, a real outcome of prolonged stress. When your brain is in constant fight-or-flight, your clarity, memory, and decision-making all take a hit.
The Empathetic Giver Who’s Disconnected from Joy
You were always the support system. The helper. The emotional rock. But now, it’s hard to remember the last time something truly lit you up. You give and give... and it’s not that you don’t care. It’s that you have nothing left to give.This is the burnout symptom of emotional exhaustion, where even joy feels like effort, and rest doesn’t feel restful.
These identities don’t mean something is wrong with you. They mean you’ve been strong for too long without support.
Let’s break that pattern. Let’s rebuild with strategy, not shame. To help you shift from reaction to intention. From burnout to clarity.
What Now?
This is exactly the work I do with my clients. We unpack the pressure, shift the patterns, and build sustainable, strategic careers.
In just a few months, you can:
Go from surviving to energised
From pushing to leading
From spinning to strategic
Ready to stop surviving and start leading?
Your next chapter begins with one powerful conversation.
👉 Book your Career Clarity Call today
Burnout is not the cost of success.
You don’t have to earn your worth through exhaustion. You get to build a career that fuels you, not drains you.
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