#89: The Great Burnout
You’re not just tired — you’re existentially, cosmically, deep-in-your-bones tired. Welcome to the club.
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The Great Burnout
Is it just me, or am I more exhausted than I’ve ever been in my life? It’s not just me. Everyone I talk to lately is running on fumes. Why though? Is it because I’m older? Still, two and a half years after my layoff, crawling out of a burnout hole? Or just reacting to the never-ending dumpster fire that is gestures wildly everything? I read this Forbes piece last week — Why American Workers Are Burnt Out and Exhausted — and it made sense.
Here’s the gist: Everyone is completely fried. Not just the people who got laid off (hi!), but the ones still clinging to their jobs like they're on the last lifeboat of the Titanic. People are working longer hours, taking on more responsibility, and forced to pretend to be “grateful” for the privilege — even though the constant layoffs, hiring freezes, and economic chaos have made their jobs more unstable than ever.
If you’re working, you’re probably afraid of getting laid off. If you’re not working, you’re probably afraid you’ll never get hired again. And either way, the stress of it all is definitely making you tired.
According to the article, we're in a "crisis of exhaustion." Which feels…accurate. Because the truth is, we’re not just burnt out from work. We’re burnt out from how we work now — the chronic uncertainty, the quiet firings, the “this job is your identity” culture that still lingers—sometimes for years—even after getting kicked to the curb. I can attest to that!
Here’s what I’ve learned since being laid off: Burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken. (Although it sure does feel that way.) It means the system is. You’re not lazy or falling behind because you’re not motivated to hustle your way back into a toxic work environment. You’re a human being reacting to nonstop pressure, and your brain is waving a tiny white flag.
So if you’re feeling like a slightly melted crayon right now, you’re not alone. Burnout is not a moral failing — it’s a natural response to unsustainable conditions. And whether you're grinding through your current job or trying to claw your way back into the workforce, please know: your worth isn't measured by how much you can “push through.” This realization was huge for me! The fact that I’m no longer capable of “pushing through” means I’m healing.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is rest. Or say no. Or quit. Or nap in the middle of the day and eat chips for dinner. You’ll figure it out.
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"I’m no longer capable of “pushing through” means I’m healing." -- this! It's so counterintuitive, but I'm starting to believe it's true. It reminds of a reel I recently saw on Elizabeth Day's profile, where basically she says that oftentimes we feel like we're stuck and not making progress, but really it is during these still phases that we're actually growing and getting ready to shed our old skin.
Just finished rage-scrolling this between Slack pings and a minor panic spiral. The fact that you explained burnout without once mentioning oat milk is Pulitzer-worthy. 10/10. No notes.