Understanding Workplace Burnout: A Common Struggle

Understanding workplace burnout. I know I’ve reached the point when my mind feels like a chewed-up circuit—like how a rabbit chews through a wire, and it sparks here and there. Then comes the irritation. Today, I was sitting at work trying to talk to people on the phone, and every single thing was making me either frustrated or irritated.

Why are you talking so loud? Why are you whispering? What’s taking you so long to talk? Why are you speaking so fast? Why are you mumbling in my ear? Then came the paranoia: Why is everyone looking at me? What are they looking at? Did they just see what I did? Do they know what was going through my head? Are they judging me?

I decided to take another break because my eye started twitching, and I felt like I wanted to cry. So, yes, you guessed it—I am now home typing this as I left work early. And now I don’t know what to do with my hands, my body, or my mind, so I figured I’d just type this out.

The Pressure of Staying Employed Amid Inflation

Burnout from working is pretty common nowadays, and it’s no wonder. There’s so much pressure to stay employed, especially with inflation driving up costs. People need money to feed themselves and their families. The job market isn’t in great shape right now either, so quitting isn’t always an option—especially if you have responsibilities like bills, rent, or kids. The fear of losing stability can push us to stay in jobs that slowly wear us down.

This constant pressure can lead to stress, frustration, and, eventually, burnout, just like what I experienced today. It’s not something that’s often talked about, but it happens to so many of us. We all feel the weight of needing to hold onto a job, even when it drains us mentally and physically.

How Overstimulation at Work Feeds Burnout

Work environments can be overstimulating, especially when you’re already feeling stressed. Small things that wouldn’t normally bother you—like how fast or slow someone speaks—become amplified when you’re already overwhelmed. Your senses are on high alert, and you start to feel trapped in a loop of frustration.

For me, it wasn’t just the phone calls. It was the feeling that everyone was looking at me, that they were judging me. The paranoia grew, and I knew I needed to step away. Sometimes, taking a break is the only option when the pressure becomes too much.

Burnout Is Real—Here’s Why We Should Talk About It

Burnout from working, especially when it feels like there’s no escape, isn’t something that gets enough attention. We’re all trying to keep up with responsibilities, with the cost of living, with our jobs—so much so that we might ignore the warning signs of burnout until it hits us hard.

That’s why I’m sharing what I went through today. If you’ve felt something similar, just know you’re not alone. Burnout happens, and it’s okay to admit that work is taking a toll on you. Sometimes just acknowledging it is the first step toward dealing with it. Maybe we can’t always quit our jobs, but we can find ways to cope, talk about it, and take care of our mental health before burnout takes over completely.

A Moment of Reflection

Typing this out has been my way of processing today’s overwhelming experience. It’s important to talk about these things because burnout is real, and we shouldn’t have to feel like we’re just surviving in our jobs. If you’re feeling like your mind is sparking in a thousand directions like mine was, take a moment to pause. It’s okay to step back, take a breath, and know that you’re not the only one going through this.

here some self-care tips at work I use. these tips will not prevent burnout because this stems from overworking yourself, but these are tips to make your workday a tad bit better. How to Practice Self-Care at Work: 5 Easy Tips for a Healthier Workday