Burnout Carries Shame and Embarrassment

By Emily - Mindful Career Journey

I hear it all the time when people finally open up about their struggles……

"It’s not like I can talk about this at work."

"Why?" I ask.

"It makes me look weak, and I don’t want to give the impression that I can’t handle the workload."

Many high-achieving professionals are concerned about their reputation at the workplace.  So, they push through, thinking: "If I can just finish this project, things will get better." But then another project follows. And another. And another. (you get the idea)

They don’t want to let their team down. They don’t want to be seen as the one who "can’t handle it." So, they stay silent……..until burnout forces them to a breaking point.

The truth is……we need to create cultures where employees feel safe speaking up—where admitting exhaustion isn’t seen as weakness but as a signal that something in the system needs to change.

Creating a psychologically safe workplace where employees feel comfortable voicing their concerns without the fear of judgment is a key driver of success, where vulnerability is seen as a strength, not a weakness.

Let’s start normalizing these conversations……..because pushing through isn’t the solution, changing the culture is.