Feeling Burnt Out?

You’re not the only one

- Claire Soong

Right now, we’re being encouraged to lean in, hustle and take every opportunity that comes our way. It’s an amazing time to make our mark on the world, but there’s also a downside to all that ambition and hard work – we’re experiencing burnout at an alarming rate.

Burnouts occur under severe and chronic stress, leading to long-term detachment, mental and physical exhaustion, and general feelings of helplessness, but they often go undetected because of their slow buildup. “Burnouts tend to be cumulative and prolonged. Someone who has had multiple stressors happen to them in the workplace and who is not engaging in consistent, diligent self-care is at a greater risk of experiencing one,” says clinical psychologist Dr Euodia Chua.

We got two ladies to share their experiences:

Erica, 27, left her job after a breakdown in the bathroom.

“In retrospect, the burnout accumulated over a two-year period. I was constantly complaining to my family about how much work was being dumped on me. When I first started, I prided myself on having a solid work-life balance, but I started taking on more projects and suddenly I didn’t have time left for myself. I love photography and it always helped me balance whatever stress I had at work, but as I moved up the corporate ladder, more responsibilities came on. Soon, the quality of my work started declining and I was falling behind in projects, which only made me more stressed.

I was also aware that I was neglecting my family and friends – and because I have social anxiety, the guilt consumed me. I noticed the steady decline in my emotional and physical well-being, but I couldn’t find the time to relax and regain my composure. I handed in my resignation letter on a whim, after having a meltdown in the bathroom for the fifth time that month.