Burnout. A term we’ve all heard, sometimes casually tossed around in conversations, yet profoundly misunderstood. It’s often associated solely with the workplace—too many deadlines, unmanageable workloads, and toxic environments. But burnout doesn’t just stem from work. It can creep into your life from unexpected places: relationships, caregiving, financial stress, or even the weight of constantly striving to be everything for everyone.
Burnout is real, and it’s not picky about where it starts, but it sure knows how to calm itself down and the help it needs.
What Exactly is Burnout?
If you look up the meaning of the term “Burn out or burned out”, you will see many definitions, but what I find most relatable are listed below:
- Worn-out
- Exhausted
- Destroyed by fire
- Severely exhausted through overwork or dissipation
Burnout is more than just feeling tired or stressed. It’s a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. It’s the feeling of being completely drained, unable to cope, and running on empty.
And while work is a common trigger, life itself can be overwhelming enough to bring you to the brink. And above all, it doesnt happen only cos of work, work related stress.. There are so many personal factors that come into play, and most people around you wont even understand or empathise with.
The Many Faces of Burnout
- The Caregiver’s Exhaustion
Taking care of loved ones is a deeply fulfilling role, but it’s also incredibly demanding. Whether you’re looking after a child, an elderly parent, or a loved one with special needs, the constant emotional and physical demands can leave you feeling depleted.
You’re there for every need, every crisis, often neglecting your own health and well-being in the process. This kind of burnout is rarely discussed, but it’s heartbreakingly common.
- Emotional Burnout in Relationships
Relationships—whether romantic, familial, or platonic—require effort, communication, and compromise. When you’re the one always giving, always supporting, and never receiving the same energy in return, it can leave you feeling unappreciated and drained.
Sometimes, even the thought of another emotionally charged conversation or conflict feels unbearable.
- Burnout from Being “Always On”
In the age of social media and constant connectivity, there’s a pressure to be perpetually available. Responding to every ping, staying active online, keeping up appearances, and curating a perfect digital life can take a toll.
Even downtime feels less like rest and more like another task to check off your never-ending to-do list. This is what many of our moms have been going through, and now as adults we experience it as well. Always being on, always being aware of what is going on, what needs to be done for our family, pets, those around us and the brain constantly running. We are planning ahead, prepping ahead, and this never ever stops! It gets to a point where you just feel exhausted and fatigued all the time. Earlier I had no clues what this felt like cos I was living with the parents or grandparents, and we had help for pretty much everything. I only had to care for myself. Oh and for the few years when I lived alone too, I was chill, with zero stress on the mind. But now, living with a partner and a pup, with barely any help, the brain has gone on a trip of its own. What to buy, what to cook, what to plan for the day ahead, or if I am stepping out, what needs to be done for Chewy who is home alone and so on… There is laundry, groceries, maid, cleaning up the home, work, work calls, as you can see the list is endless… Uff, just writing it down is tiring~
- Financial Burnout
The stress of living paycheck to paycheck, juggling bills, or managing debt can weigh heavily. It’s the kind of stress that doesn’t switch off when you leave the office. Financial instability can lead to sleepless nights, anxiety, and eventually, full-blown burnout. It is so much pressure constantly being aware of how much is left in the bank or plan your day/life/outings based on the balance. Thankfully, the one thing i learnt from dad [who worked at a bank] was financial planning and saving up. Financial independence is the only thing that keeps our mind sane and comforted knowing the future is taken care of~ - Burnout from Self-Imposed Expectations
Perfectionists and overachievers, this one’s for you. The constant pressure to excel, to always do better, to never let anyone down—it’s exhausting. Sometimes, we are our own toughest critics, setting impossible standards and beating ourselves up when we inevitably fall short. Oh yes, the standards we set for ourselves, the way we beat ourselves up if something doesnt go the way we anticipated is a killer.. it is so important to just BE and know that there is only so much control you have on things~
Signs You’re Burning Out (And It’s Not Just Work)
- Chronic fatigue, even after a good night’s sleep.
- A sense of detachment or emotional numbness.
- Feeling like every small task is insurmountable.
- Frequent headaches, muscle pain, or unexplained illnesses.
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
- Irritability, frustration, or unexplained outbursts.
- A pervasive sense of dread or hopelessness.
