The burnout you don’t notice… until it wears you down

You can’t quite put your finger on it.
You’re not miserable — but you’re not okay.
You get through the week.
You do the job.
But you’re running on fumes.
And it’s taking everything you’ve got.

This is burnout, too.

Not the kind that knocks you over.
The kind that creeps in, quietly and gradually — until your spark starts to fade.

It can show up like this:
- You feel flat, even after a win.
- Small tasks feel heavy.
- You zone out in meetings you used to enjoy.
- Weekends don’t recharge you like they used to.

I know that version of burnout — I’ve lived it.
And I see it often in the leaders I coach.
What’s tricky is how slowly it sneaks up.

When I burned out several years ago, I brushed it off as “just a busy season.”
I told myself it’d ease after the next deadline, board meeting, or re-org.
But the pressure didn’t lift — and I just kept pushing.
It took me a while to name it.

On the surface, things were going well.
But underneath, I was running on empty.

Working with a coach helped me uncover what was really going on.
For me, it wasn’t just the long hours and constant pressure — it was a misalignment between what I was doing, my values, and what I wanted to be doing.

Now, when I coach leaders facing the early signs of burnout, we start by slowing down and getting curious:

What’s giving you energy — and what’s draining it?
What once worked to get you through, but no longer does?
What’s the story you’re telling yourself about why you can’t slow down?
What boundaries have blurred — and which ones need strengthening?
What needs to shift in you, your role, or your environment?

From there, we explore options.

Sometimes it’s a bold shift.
Often, it’s a small but meaningful course correction:
- Reclaiming space and boundaries
- Saying no more often
- Realigning work with values
- Rebuilding your relationship with rest

Because burnout isn’t a weakness.
It’s a signal — your body telling you that something needs to change.

Have you ever been burned out and kept going anyway?
What helped you turn the corner?