Burnout Isn’t Laziness: A Therapist-Written Guide by The Thought Co.
The Burnout Guide
When your body says “no,” even if your calendar says “go.”
You’re not lazy. You’re tired.
Burnout is the modern ghost in the machine—it shows up not as drama, but as delay. Not as collapse, but as disconnection. For weeks, you might call it a slump. You power through. You cancel plans, tell yourself you’ll catch up on rest soon. But the fog doesn’t lift. The spark doesn’t return. You stop wondering if you’re okay, and start assuming this is just who you are now.
It isn’t. And you’re not alone.
1. The signs are subtle—until they aren’t
You wake up tired. You stare at a blank screen like it owes you something. You forget what it feels like to look forward to your work. And maybe, like Tasha, a creative who thought she was in a rut, you’ll realise too late that it wasn’t about missing inspiration—it was about forgetting to eat, bursting into tears over neutral feedback, and calling it “just a phase.”
Burnout isn’t loud. It’s quiet, and it creeps in disguised as disinterest.
2. Fatigue is data (even if you’re used to ignoring it)
You might call it zoning out, poor focus, or low drive—but sometimes, your mind is just doing damage control. Aarav, a junior copywriter, thought he was slipping at work because he couldn’t keep up during calls. The truth? He was emotionally maxed out, and his brain had gone into low-power mode to protect him.
What looks like apathy might actually be your nervous system waving a flag. Exhaustion isn’t failure. It’s feedback.
3. Resetting without quitting your job (or your life)
You don’t need to book a silent retreat. Try this instead:
- Do one thing slowly. Walk. Make tea. Breathe.
- Say no to one thing. One email. One call. One expectation.
- Complete one task. Not five. One.
- Lie down without guilt. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Just be.
- Write one sentence: “I think I’m carrying a lot of...”
4. When to consider therapy
If you're feeling stuck, emotionally numb, or endlessly tired—therapy isn't about fixing you. It's about understanding what's weighing on you and how to carry it better.
At The Thought Co., our therapists are psychologists first. No fluff, no pressure. Just someone who gets it, sitting across from you, helping you sort through the fog.
5. Still not ready? That’s okay.
We get it. If you’re not ready for therapy yet, here’s a gentle place to start.