Most people confuse stress with burnout because they share similar symptoms. Headaches, fatigue, disrupted sleep. But while stress is a reaction, burnout is a condition. It’s the accumulation of stressors over time, turning into something unmanageable. And the people who burn out the hardest? The strong ones.
🔥 Stress is temporary. Burnout is long-term.
Stress comes and goes, but burnout builds up in the background. It’s what happens when you keep saying, “I’ll just do it myself”, “I don’t want to put this on someone else”, and “I can handle it.” Eventually, the weight gets too heavy.
🧠 The Curse of the Strong
Burnout doesn’t hit those who don’t care. It hits the ones who take responsibility, push through, and refuse to ask for help. These are the high achievers, the problem-solvers, the people who get things done. Until they can’t anymore.
Recognizing Burnout Before It Breaks You
🚩 Three Major Signs of Burnout:
1️⃣ Emotional exhaustion – Feeling drained, detached, or just running on empty.
2️⃣ Cynicism – Losing passion for your work, becoming negative or resentful.
3️⃣ Personal inefficacy – Feeling like no matter how hard you work, it’s not enough.
How to Break the Cycle
Set Boundaries – Your energy isn’t infinite. Learn to say no, delegate, and unplug.
Prioritize Recovery – You can’t ‘push through’ burnout. Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a necessity.
Ask for Help – Strength isn’t about doing it all alone—it’s about knowing when to lean on others.
The biggest mistake? Ignoring burnout until it forces you to stop.
Some time ago, I didn’t realise I was burned out until I was already past the worst of it. I was working 70+ hours a week, trying to fix things that others didn’t even see as a problem. When I finally spoke up, I was dismissed as negative. In reality, I had already found my way through the worst of it.
The experience however, taught me something critical:
Nothing is as urgent or as important as people make it seem. If leadership doesn’t care, why am I destroying myself over it?
What helped me most was finding ways to process everything without taking on even more weight. Talking things through—whether with a trusted friend, a mentor, or a professional—can help shift your perspective. For me, even something as simple as journaling and using ChatGPT to structure my thoughts gave me the mental bandwidth to move forward. But that’s just one tool—if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for real support.
If this sounds familiar, don’t wait until you’re past the worst of it to take action. Burnout isn’t something to push through—it’s something to address early. Here are some resources that can help:
Burnout-Specific Resources
- Beyond Blue Provides information and resources specifically on burnout and mental health in the workplace.
- MindSpot Offers free online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression, which can be related to burnout. Call 1800 61 44 34.
- Your local GP A good starting point for discussing burnout symptoms and getting referrals to mental health professionals.
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) Many workplaces offer confidential counselling services for employees experiencing work-related stress or burnout.
There are also more resources listed on the Health Direct website.
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