Guides, short explainers, and one small thing you can try today. Written with care, backed by widely accepted mental-health practice — never a substitute for professional support.
Burnout tends to creep. Most people don't notice they're in it until a small task — replying to an email, choosing dinner — feels disproportionately hard. That's not weakness. That's a nervous system running low on reserves.
Stage one — over-functioning
You're still delivering, maybe more than usual, but you're pushing through fatigue with caffeine, discipline, or fear. Sleep suffers first, then patience. This is often praised at work, which makes it harder to catch.
Stage two — cynicism
The work you cared about starts to feel meaningless. You snap easily. You fantasise about quitting. Underneath the cynicism is usually grief — for the version of you who felt engaged.
Stage three — depletion
You feel numb, foggy, or physically ill. Simple things drain you. This stage often gets confused with depression, and sometimes overlaps with it. Please talk to a professional if you're here.
One thing to try today
Name which stage feels closest. Not to fix it — to stop gaslighting yourself. Then tell one person who is safe.
