Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor

Let us talk about burnout.

To some people, burnout is a badge of honor. They wear it proudly, as if being burnt out means they are the hardest worker in the room. “Oh yes, I am burnt out from work,” they say, and they mean it as proof. Proof that they are dedicated. Proof that they are deserving. Maybe even proof that they are successful.

But I am here to say that burnout is not a badge of honor.

Burnout is a warning sign. It tells you that something is off. It could mean you have not managed your time properly. It could mean you have neglected your health—physically, mentally, or emotionally. Somewhere along the line, you stopped putting yourself first.

And here is something I always tell people: work will always be there. It is not going anywhere. The real question is, how are you managing your time and your energy?

Now, what exactly is burnout?

In my own words, burnout happens when you no longer find joy in doing what you once loved. It is not the same as disliking your job. This goes deeper. You used to be excited to go to work. You used to feel fulfilled. But now, it feels like a chore. You no longer want to get out of bed in the morning. You feel flat. You feel tired even before the day begins. You are just not motivated anymore. That is burnout.

It is not the same thing as depression. Depression is a different condition that affects every part of life. Burnout is specifically tied to your work. But just because it is work-related does not make it any less serious.

I believe burnout has now been recognized by the WHO (as actors influencing health status or contact with health services) and it means more people are talking about it

Burnout often happens when people stop resting. They stop taking breaks. They take work beyond where it is supposed to go. I have experienced burnout before. And I can tell you, it came from a place of not taking care of myself. I was pushing and pushing, thinking that if I just worked a little harder, it would all be worth it. But that was not sustainable.

I do not do that anymore. I realised that work will remain work. What I needed to do was start prioritising my health.

One of the simplest ways to manage burnout is to actually take your annual leave. Go on holiday. Stop taking work home. Create clear boundaries. When it is time for work, give it your best. When it is time for rest, unplug completely. Be present with your family. Be present with yourself. Recharge.

If you ignore burnout, it does not just affect you. It can lead to mistakes at work. It can cause you to miss important signs. It can make you underperform. And that can lead to consequences like disciplinary actions, or even losing your job.

So when you start feeling that loss of motivation, that constant fatigue, that emotional distance from your job—it is time to pause and pay attention. Your body and your mind are telling you that something needs to change.

And sometimes, even after taking a break, you may still not feel recharged. In that case, maybe it is time to consider something deeper. Maybe the job itself no longer aligns with who you are or what you want. And that is okay. Not every job is forever.

Whatever you do, always remember this: your health comes first. Your mental health, your physical health, your emotional health. Everything else can wait.

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