Let’s be honest: burnout has become the default setting for a lot of people.
You wake up tired, finish the day tired, and somewhere in between you’re expected to “be productive,” answer emails instantly, stay updated on everything happening in the world, maintain friendships, drink enough water, and maybe touch grass once in a while.
And if you can’t do all that?
You’re made to feel like you’re the problem.
But here’s the truth: burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s a cultural one.
Work Doesn’t End When Work Ends
One of the biggest reasons burnout is everywhere is that work follows us home now.
- Your boss can message you after 10 PM
- Emails pop up during dinner
- Remote work has blurred every boundary imaginable
- “Just 5 more minutes” somehow becomes an extra hour
Psychologists have been warning for years that humans need clear separation between work and rest. Without it, your brain stays in a low-level “alert mode” that slowly drains your energy — even when you’re technically off the clock.
Basically, our jobs didn’t just get longer. They got louder.
The Pressure to Be Everything at Once
A lot of us grew up with the idea that if you just work hard enough, everything will fall into place.
Except now we’re expected to:
- Work like we don’t have personal lives
- Have personal lives like we don’t work
- Maintain perfect mental health
- Stay “informed” on every crisis
- Look good doing all of it
It’s no surprise the World Health Organization officially recognized burnout as a workplace phenomenon. People aren’t imagining it — it’s happening on a massive scale.
Hustle Culture Didn’t Help
Ever scroll through social media and see those “motivational” posts that basically tell you:
“If you’re not working 16 hours a day, you don’t want it badly enough.”
Yeah. Those didn’t do anyone any favors.
Somewhere along the way, rest became associated with laziness, and productivity became tied to self-worth.
But humans aren’t machines, and even machines overheat if they run nonstop.
Our Brains Aren’t Built for Constant Noise
Burnout isn’t just about work — it’s about mental overload.
Every day, we’re hit with:
- News
- Notifications
- Ads
- Opinions
- Posts
- Messages
- More news
There’s a reason studies suggest people now consume more daily information than humans did thousands of years ago in their entire lifetime.
Our brains simply weren’t designed for this much input.
So What Do We Do?
The answer isn’t “just take a bubble bath” or “go outside.”
Self-care helps — but it doesn’t fix the system that created the problem.
Still, here are a few things that are realistic:
1. Micro-rest > Big Rest
You don’t need a vacation.
You need small breaks throughout the day.
2. Protect Your Off-Time
Silence notifications when you’re done with work.
(You’re allowed — your phone is not your manager.)
3. Stop Measuring Worth by Output
You’re a person.
Not a checklist.
4. Adjust Expectations
It’s okay to do less.
You’re not supposed to be running at max capacity.
If You Feel Burned Out, You’re Not Alone — You’re Normal
Burnout isn’t weakness.
It’s a signal.
And the fact that so many people are feeling it at the same time says more about the world we live in than the people trying their best to survive in it.
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The Red Thread 
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