Running on empty: Is ‘Burnout’ becoming the norm?

Photo: Me on my daily dog walk today, with most of my energy restored, after having a bout of illness over the weekend 😊

When I first heard the diagnosis ‘burnout’ in the early 90s, the term was relatively unknown and mostly used in occupational health and psychology circles. Today, most of us have heard someone say, “I’m just burnt out.” And with a staggering 85% of UK workers saying they’ve experienced burnout and exhaustion due to work (see recent Reed survey reported by The Times), chances are you may have said it – or at least felt it – yourself.

And this isn’t just an issue in the UK. A 2024 report by the WHO recognises burnout as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

So what’s going on?

The cost of always being on

Burnout builds when the pace is relentless, expectations are high, and the time for rest, reflection, or genuine connection keep shrinking.

According to Reed’s findings:

• 47% of workers have taken time off due to mental health.

• Among 18–34-year-olds, that figure rises dramatically, with over 90% reporting symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and anxiety.

• Many said they felt pressure to keep going, even when unwell, driven by fear, responsibility, or their own internal expectations.

Burnout often remains invisible until it’s too late. But when it hits, it looks like cynicism where previously there was connection, lethargy rather than drive, brain fog instead of clarity, irritability when patience is needed, and a general fatigue that may lead to dissociative behaviour, e.g. doom scrolling, binge-watching, emotional eating and drinking, etc.

What’s going on with us all?

We are living through a time when our collective energy is fragile. And many of our environments are designed to encourage urgency over reflective thinking, instant gratification over lasting joy, and a relentless demand on our attention.

Yet, we need something deeper: a shift in how we relate to our work, our expectations, and ourselves.

So what can we do?

We can start by asking yourself:

• Where is my energy going?

• Why am I pushing through, and at what cost?

• What restores and replenishes me in a wholesome and meaningful way?

And perhaps more radically:

• What would it look like to live and work in a way that supports my wellbeing, not undermines it?

  
  

A different way forward

New Perspectives, a weekly 40-minute break for busy people, is designed to slow us down just long enough to ask some good questions. To tune in, and listen.

Burnout is a signal, not a weakness. And in that signal is the chance to reimagine how we move through the world.

If you’re tired – really tired – you’re not alone. And you don’t have to figure it out on your own, either.

This week, the theme at the next New Perspectives session on Wednesday is Energy, and we’ll explore five different perspectives including our own, to see what may help us thrive again in this fast-paced, volatile world.

It’s free, with no commitment required. You’re welcome to join one session or all of them. You can simply come and listen, or actively participate. All you have to do is register at www.workinglife.co.uk/new-perspectives