If you’re reading this while you’re “fine” on the outside… but privately exhausted, you’re not alone.

You might be the person who:

• replies fast

• takes initiative

• holds the group together

• says yes because it’s easier than the awkwardness

• is dependable… until you crash

From the outside, it can look like you’re coping.
From the inside, it can feel like you’re constantly bracing for the next thing.

And here’s the part that messes with your head: you can be high-functioning and still be struggling.

The kind of burnout people don’t notice

Sometimes burnout isn’t lying in bed unable to move.

Sometimes it’s:

• being productive while feeling numb

• being “on” all day, then shutting down after work

• needing hours to recover from one meeting

• feeling guilty resting, even when you’re depleted

• constantly thinking “I should be able to handle this”

If this is you, the issue isn’t a lack of discipline.
It’s that your system has been running on pressure for too long.

A gentle check-in (no labels, just information)

Ask yourself:

1. When was the last time I felt properly off-duty?

2. Am I resting, or just pausing before the next task?

3. Is my “yes” coming from choice… or from fear of disappointing someone?

None of these answers make you “good” or “bad.” They just give you data.

A small shift that helps

Instead of trying to “fix” yourself, start here:

What is one thing you’re carrying that isn’t actually yours?
A tone. A team mood. Someone else’s urgency. A standard nobody asked for.

Pick one thing. Then practise a boundary that matches reality, not perfection.

A simple line:

“I can’t take that on right now.”
“I can do X, but not Y.”
“I’ll need more time before I can confirm.”

You don’t have to be harsh.
You just have to be clear.

If guilt shows up afterward

Guilt doesn’t always mean you did something wrong.
Sometimes it just means you did something new.

If you want support with work burnout, people-pleasing patterns, or boundary fatigue, therapy can be a space to practise this in a structured, non-judgemental way.

General information only — not personal psychological advice. If you’re in crisis or need urgent help, contact emergency services.