Work Is Killing Me: How to Recognize and Recover from Burnout
Let’s talk about burnout. Not the cute “I need a self-care day” kind, but the deep, soul-crushing exhaustion that makes you question your entire existence. You know, the kind where you lie in bed at night thinking, all I do is work, and then wake up the next morning to do it all over again.
If you’ve ever found yourself asking, am I lazy or burnt out? let me clear that up for you: you’re probably burnt out. Laziness is a choice; burnout is a full-body shutdown. And yet, our work-obsessed culture convinces us that pushing through is the only answer—until our bodies, minds, and relationships start falling apart.
Burnout Isn’t Just “Being Tired”
Burnout isn’t just about needing a vacation. It’s what happens when stress becomes your default setting. You feel drained no matter how much you sleep. Your patience is gone, your motivation tanked, and even simple tasks feel impossible. Some people get angry and resentful, while others just feel numb. Either way, the end result is the same: work is killing you.
And let’s be real—this isn’t just an individual problem. Many workplaces thrive on burnout culture, rewarding those who sacrifice their well-being for productivity. “Just work harder,” they say, as if grinding yourself into the ground will somehow make you better, stronger, or more valuable.
How to Tell If You’re Burnt Out (and Not Just Over It)
Burnout creeps in slowly, but here are some red flags:
You’re exhausted all the time. Coffee and energy drinks don’t even make a dent anymore.
You dread work. The Sunday scaries are scary as hell. If the thought of Monday makes you spiral, pay attention.
Your performance is slipping. Tasks that used to be easy now feel impossible to get done.
You feel detached. From your job, from people, from yourself. It’s like you’re on autopilot. Just going through the motions.
Your body is fighting back. Headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, frequent illness—burnout doesn’t just hit your mind, it strains your body too.
From Burnout to Balance
If you’re nodding along thinking, Yep, work is killing me, here’s what you need to know: burnout won’t fix itself. No amount of caffeine, fake enthusiasm, or “pushing through” is going to magically restore your energy. The only way out is to make real changes.
Take breaks—actual breaks. Not just scrolling your phone between meetings. Step away. Breathe. Move your body.
Set boundaries. Work does not own you. If you’re answering emails at midnight, it’s time to stop.
Get support. Talk to a therapist, a mentor, or someone who gets it. You’re not weak for struggling.
Reevaluate. If your job is sucking the life out of you, it might be time to rethink your career path. No paycheck is worth your mental health.
The Reality Check
If your life revolves around your work, something’s got to give— and if it’s not your schedule, it’ll be you. No job, paycheck, or performance metric is worth sacrificing your mental and physical health. So if you’ve been wondering, am I lazy or burnt out? trust me, it’s burnout. And you don’t have to keep running on empty. Your well-being matters more than your workload.
