To think we normalise burnout because people fear being seen as average?

[ChasingExcellence]

Everyone’s hustling themselves into the ground just to feel worthy.

No, people are struggling while also being entirely average. In some cases they’re struggling to manage ‘average’.

Did you just read The subtle art of not giving a fuck?
There is a chapter on it

No

I think burnout is a symptom of life at the moment.

With any luck, one of the fuckers leading us all will make such a serious mistake that everyone will sit down and think, we can't go on like this.

Meanwhile, if you are suffering with burnout, I recommend the idea of building flex into your life - work to 85% max, and prioritise rest.

Just because everyone else is working themselves into the ground doesn't mean you have to.

I’m currently burnt out and I wasn’t hustling for other people’s view or opinion of me. I was hustling trying to keep my head above water financially with three kids and not much support. I was also in a low paid, high stress role. I get where you’re coming from but not everyone is burning out because they’re keeping up with the Jones’. Some people burn out because life’s been tough for them and they’ve faced systemic barriers. Often from childhood.

Some employers won't let you just carry on doing your job and being average. In reality that's how most of us are.

We live in a society where we are conditioned to make each other work harder through shame, we work even harder ourselves through fear of that shame.
We are taught to play against each other, going the extra mile is expected so we resent those who don’t and pull ourselves up by pushing others down in a bid to get ahead and be the hardest worker for the same money but to earn ourselves the pride badge for being as over worked and under appreciated as we can.
It’s no accident, it starts at school when we are taught to be compliant and not to question authority, this is just the stepping stone to a future of work harder and don’t ask questions.

Everyone? Generalisation.

Today's edgy topic, evidently.

Burnout just describes a group of symptoms that we might previously have referred to as stress, anxiety, unhappiness frustration.

people might’ve suppressed these, or dealt with them poorly in the past, but at this time in 2026 we’re better at verbalising and isolating the problem, and hopefully therefore resolve it, better.

But those stressors, that OK we can name now, refer to a way of life.

I am not sure I agree with 'all' of the post above about how we are conditioned to do this, but I do think that we are sleepwalking forward towards endless divided segments of time, which is not good for people. I wish we could build other things in to modern life. I try to.

Ive never felt that pressure but then i've never had burnout

so then the real reason is the ridiculous pressure employers put on people to be ‘passionate’ about punching numbers and all that other BS. And then yes the burnout people feel to measure up stems from that.

“But those stressors, that OK we can name now, refer to a way of life.”

Do they? Not sure if I’ve misunderstood but for example, I have a friend who is burnt out the moment. In the last 5 years her dad has passed away, she’s had a major operation, been made redundant twice and thus started 3 new jobs TWO of which were awful, and then got divorced.

that’s not a way of life. That’s a number of major life events hitting in a short space of time, piling on top of each other

I burned out. It was a combination of some personal life stressors, plus a job that was the wrong fit for me where I was senior with a team under me, but with not enough to do, and a continual need to justify my role.
Throw on top the over stimulation of non stop nonsense emails, Teams calls, Teams messages, calendar reminders, meetings about meetings, line management admin, Board reporting, quarterly appraisals, new initiative after new initiative.
My brain collapsed.
I wasn't seeking approval and dont give a shit what family or friends think about my situation.

That is true yes and not sure my point was very well rounded or made tbh!

Your friend has been through traumas hasn't she, I am sorry to hear.

I personally just found that the treadmill of get up - do things in order - drive hard for 45 mins no matter what - work - eat right - work again - get home - gym / tidy / work at home - cook - exercise somewhere etc ----

Ad infinitum day after week after year - rubbish.

Yeah, I think you've got a point actually. I'm really trying to set boundaries for my health. It doesn't come easily but important, probably.

Yes- it’s depressing and that impacts over time

No, I think it is capitalism creating a society that makes employers see employees as units of production rather than people, leading to a never-ending pressure on them to produce more, coupled with the related concept of unwaged work such as care responsibilities not being taking into account when calculating someone's productive output capacity. And once everyone is giving all they have, it only takes one disaster or illness etc to push what they have to do up past 100% of their actual physical capacity and then they break.

Me neither.
I managed to quit this bullshit I didn't choose at 25.
Through a lucrative marriage.

@BestZebbie I completely agree with your viewpoint as I lived through it myself. It leads to feeling of inadequacy and general burnout. Luckily my husband's salary can support our family. So I can afford to take a step back, but I agree not everyone is in this position

Or people are just less resilient these days and can't cope with things that people used to manage perfectly well?

Why do you think people used to manage perfectly well?