Hi Harmony Hustlers,
Have you ever wondered why you still feel exhausted even after taking a break? Maybe you’ve started questioning yourself: Am I just being lazy? Why can’t I get motivated? Have I lost my spark?
Let me stop you right there.
You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re not ungrateful.
You might just be burnt out.
So what exactly is burnout? And how do you know if that’s what you’re dealing with?
In this post, we’re going to unpack exactly what burnout is (and what it isn’t), why you might be missing the early warning signs, and why this experience has become almost a rite of passage for women trying to do it all.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer understanding of whether what you’re feeling is everyday exhaustion or something more serious.
What Is Burnout?
If you’ve found yourself wondering why even simple tasks feel heavy, or why a full night’s sleep leaves you waking up just as exhausted, you’re not alone.
The word burnout gets tossed around so often these days that it’s easy to dismiss what you’re feeling as just another bad week. But burnout isn’t just about feeling tired or needing a weekend off.
Instead, it’s a deep, ongoing state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that comes from prolonged, unmanaged stress. And more often than not, it sneaks up on you while you’re busy trying to be everything to everyone.
Burnout doesn’t just zap your energy; it drains your motivation, dulls your joy, and leaves you wondering why things that once lit you up now barely register a flicker.
You might look at your to-do list and feel absolutely nothing. No drive to start and no satisfaction from finishing. It’s a depletion of your internal resources, like trying to drive a car that’s completely out of fuel but expecting it to run on sheer willpower.
“Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.”
– Michael Gungo
If you’ve been telling yourself to “just push through” or blame yourself for not being more motivated, take a moment to pause. Burnout isn’t solved by a quick nap or a spontaneous spa day (though, wouldn’t that be nice?). It takes considered steps to recover from.
Burnout is your mind and body’s way of telling you that something has to change. And the first step is recognising it for what it really is.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Sadly burnout doesn’t always announce itself when it starts to creep in. It tiptoes in quietly, disguising itself as just a “bad mood” or a rough patch you think will pass.
But over time, it settles in and starts to affect every area of your life, including your body, your emotions, and the way you show up in the world.
If you suspect what you’re feeling is more than tiredness alone, here are a few common signs to look out for:
Physical Signs
- Constant fatigue, even after a full night’s sleep
- Unexplained headaches, muscle tension, or body aches
- Sleep disruptions; struggling to fall asleep or waking up feeling unrested
- Frequent illnesses or a weakened immune system
If your body feels like it’s in permanent low-power mode, that’s a sign something deeper is at play.
Emotional Signs
- Feeling cynical or negative about things you once enjoyed
- Emotional numbness; feeling “meh” about everything
- Irritability or snapping at loved ones over small things
- Persistent feelings of failure or self-doubt
- A feeling of helplessness
It’s easy to mistake these feelings for a temporary funk, but if they’re hanging around, it could be burnout making itself at home.
If you do slow down, people start making you feel guilty. As though rest is a luxury you haven’t earned yet.
Behavioural Signs
- Procrastination or avoiding responsibilities entirely
- Withdrawing from social activities, even ones you used to love
- Numbing behaviours; endless scrolling, binge-watching, emotional eating
- Struggling to concentrate or feeling foggy-headed
One of the sneakiest parts of burnout is how it makes you feel disconnected, not just from others, but from yourself. You may find yourself going through the motions, wondering where the vibrant, driven version of you went.
*Burnout symptoms vary from person to person, and often creep in gradually. Left unchecked, chronic burnout can contribute to more serious mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. That’s why catching the early signs and acting on them is so important.
If you’re nodding along to more than a few of these symptoms, take this as a gentle nudge, it’s time to check in with yourself, not push harder.
What Is Burnout vs Tiredness: How to Spot the Difference?
It’s not always easy to recognise symptoms of burnout, especially if you’ve never been burnt out before. So how can you know if you’re just tired or facing something more serious?
Whilst the symptoms of everyday tiredness can overlap with symptoms of burnout, there is a distinct difference between the two. Let’s take a quick look at how they differ:
| Tiredness | Burnout |
| Relieved by rest | Persists even after rest |
| Temporary | Chronic or progressive |
| You still have motivation | Emotional numbness |
| Physical fatigue only | Emotional and mental exhaustion |
| Energy returns after a break | Constant depletion, no matter the break |
You might find yourself thinking, “I’m just being lazy,” or “I need to try harder.” But burnout isn’t a result of laziness, it’s the result of carrying too much for too long without enough space to recover.
Ask Yourself:
- Do I feel emotionally flat or disconnected most days?
- Is my tiredness sticking around no matter how much I try to rest?
- Have I lost interest in things that used to bring me joy?
If the answer to these questions is yes, it’s not a failure on your part, it’s a sign that something deeper needs your attention. And recognising that is the bravest first step you can take.
Real-Life Examples
Sometimes the clearest way to recognise burnout is to see it reflected in someone else’s story. Let’s take a look at Safa and Ayla’s story. Pay attention to whether their stories feel familiar.
Safa’s Story: The Balancing Act That Broke Her
On paper, Safa was doing everything right. A promising career, a supportive family, and a bustling social calendar. But behind the scenes, she was stretched so thin that she felt like she might snap at any moment.
Her mornings started before dawn, preparing breakfast and checking in on her in-laws. Her workdays were a constant stream of back-to-back meetings, emails, and deadlines. Evenings? Those were reserved for family obligations and keeping up appearances in her social circle.
The ‘On Paper Perfect’ Life That Felt Empty
One Thursday evening, stuck in traffic after yet another exhausting day, Safa found herself crying silently in the car. Not from any one terrible event but from the overwhelming weight of everything. That was the moment she questioned whether this was just a feeling of tiredness or more. This wasn’t just tiredness. Safa was, in fact burnt out.
Then there’s Ayla. To anyone looking from the outside, she had it all. A thriving business, a beautiful home and a life that should have felt full. But every morning, she woke up feeling nothing.
The hobbies she once loved sat untouched. Friends reached out, but she rarely had the energy to respond. Even moments of success felt hollow, like ticking off a checklist rather than celebrating something meaningful.
She wasn’t falling apart dramatically, she was simply fading out, bit by bit, under the surface.
If any part of these stories feels familiar, take heart. You’re not broken or weak. You’re simply exhausted from carrying too much for too long.
Awareness is the first step toward change. Burnout doesn’t have to define your life. Now that you understand what it is, you’re in a stronger position to begin healing and reclaim your energy.
Why Burnout Is On The Rise
Burnout doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s the result of layered, ongoing pressures that many of us have come to accept as normal. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons burnout is on the rise:
1. The Glorification of Hustle Culture
Let’s talk about hustle culture because honestly, it’s exhausting.
Somewhere along the way, being constantly busy turned into this weird badge of honour. If you’re not running on coffee and five hours of sleep, are you even trying hard enough?
And if you do slow down, people start making you feel guilty. As though rest is a luxury you haven’t earned yet.
I’ve been there. It’s one of the reasons I burned out. We’re constantly being told to push, strive, and do more. But at what cost?
We have to start ignoring these unrealistic standards. Because the truth is, constantly being in go-mode doesn’t make you more successful. It just makes you exhausted.
2. The Aftermath of the Pandemic
The pandemic didn’t just change how we work, it changed everything. Suddenly, our homes turned into offices, boundaries disappeared, and “just logging on for a minute” became code for working all evening. I don’t think any of us were fully prepared for how blurry things would get. No commute, no clocking off, just this constant hum of being “on.”
It’s no wonder so many of us felt isolated, stretched, and overwhelmed. That weird in-between phase? It did a number on our mental health. And even now, years later, a lot of us are still carrying that burnout with us.
3. Cultural and Gender Expectations
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Women are expected to do a lot. You’re supposed to excel at work, be emotionally available, keep the house running, stay in touch with everyone, and look good doing it? Come on.
It’s the classic double shift. Smashing it at work all day, then coming home to another full-time job.
And if you’re from a culture that values family duty (hi, Safa), the pressure’s even heavier.
It’s no surprise so many women feel drained emotionally and physically. And yet we still convince ourselves we’re “just tired” instead of calling it what it is: Burnout. We are burnt out!
4. Economic Pressures
It’s no secret that everything’s more expensive these days. Rent, food, bills, life.
It’s hard to slow down or prioritise rest when you’re just trying to make ends meet.
So many of us are working longer hours, side hustling, or taking on extra responsibilities just to stay afloat.
The financial stress isn’t just about money. It’s the mental weight that comes with it. Constant worry, limited downtime, and that sinking feeling that no matter how hard you work, it’s still not enough. Burnout isn’t just emotional. Sometimes, it’s economic too.
5. Lack of Support in the Workplace
You know that feeling when you’re drowning at work, and no one even notices?
Sometimes, burnout creeps in not because you aren’t trying hard enough, but because you’re trying too hard with too little support.
And the truth is, many workplaces are stretched thin too. It’s not always about bad intentions. Sometimes, the right systems just aren’t in place.
But that doesn’t make it any easier.
You end up juggling deadlines, expectations, and invisible emotional labour, all while running on empty. And when there’s no time or space to pause and just breathe, it’s only a matter of time before exhaustion sets in. Feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, and drained shouldn’t be the norm, but for so many of us, it is. And that needs to change.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, well done. You’re already doing the hardest part, which is facing the truth.
Remember, burnout isn’t a personal flaw, and it’s certainly not something you can simply “push through.” It’s a valid, real experience that deserves your attention and care.
Recognising the signs of burnout is the first, most powerful step towards healing.
And while it might feel overwhelming right now, recovery is absolutely possible. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as admitting “I’m not okay, and that’s okay.”
If this post resonated with you, you might also enjoy:
- How to Rebuild Confidence – 7 Top Tips
- The One Trait That Sets Successful People Apart
- 10 Daily Habits to Skyrocket Your Confidence at Work
In the next article of this ‘burnout series’, we’ll dive into the hidden causes of burnout, especially the silent, sneaky stressors you might not even realise are weighing you down. So keep your eyes peeled.