Is Burnout Haunting You? Break Free for Good
In a season filled with ghost stories, there’s one terrifying presence we can’t ignore: burnout. It’s not lurking in haunted houses; it’s creeping into our workplaces, our homes, and our lives. Years after the pandemic, this “burnout ghost” continues to haunt us, as persistent as ever. We feel it in the unshakable exhaustion, the loss of joy in work, and the nagging sense of detachment.
The numbers reveal just how severe the burnout epidemic has become:
A 2023 Gallup survey found that 44% of U.S. employees reported feeling burned out “very often” or “always” at work, with numbers steadily increasing since 2020.
The American Psychological Association highlights that 79% of employees experienced work-related stress in the past year, impacting both mental health and job performance.
Deloitte’s 2022 Workplace Burnout Survey found that 77% of professionals have experienced burnout at their current job, with 91% acknowledging that unmanageable stress affects their quality of work.
The high rates of burnout are no longer just a seasonal spike—they reflect a deeper issue rooted in blurred boundaries, increasing demands, and a culture that rewards output over well-being. As remote and hybrid work arrangements continue, it’s become harder to “switch off,” leaving burnout to linger long after the workday ends.
Why Old Solutions Won’t Cut It Anymore
The pandemic forever changed how we work, blurring the lines between home and office life. With increased demands and fewer boundaries, the old advice—just take a break—only scratches the surface. For many of us, beliefs about self-worth are tied directly to productivity and success. As a result, we end up pushing ourselves harder to meet unrealistic standards.
When we believe things like “I am only valuable when I’m productive,” burnout becomes inevitable. Without addressing these underlying beliefs, burnout will remain an unwelcome guest in our lives.
A Fresh Approach to Burnout: Practical, Personal, and Preventative
Through my work, I help people uncover what’s really behind their burnout and take control of their career health with actionable steps. Here’s a glimpse of my method:
Rewiring Our Work Beliefs: Many of us equate our value with how much we accomplish in a day. By shifting to a self-compassionate mindset, like “My value is not tied to my output,” we can start to see productivity differently and prioritize our well-being.
Crafting Sustainable Boundaries: Rather than treating boundaries as a simple checklist item, I encourage people to create daily rhythms that reflect their values, making balance second nature. For example, implementing “tech-free time” each night can restore the sense of separation between work and personal life.
Building a Resilient Relationship with Work: Developing consistent, healthy habits reduces the likelihood of burnout and makes work life more fulfilling. This might mean setting weekly intentions, scheduling breaks throughout the day, or creating a ritual to end the workday, helping to reset and recharge.
This season, don’t let burnout haunt your life. With the right approach, you can make burnout a ghost of the past and create a career that fuels you, not drains you.
Xo,
Dr. Jess
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