By Calodagh McCumiskey, Wellbeing and Leadership Specialist
Burnout doesn't look the same in all situations. It can be the high-performing entrepreneur who can't stop crying - and can no longer see the wood for the trees.
Sometimes it's the working parent with a full schedule and an empty tank.
Sometimes it's the corporate star who's lost his spark.
Burnout is more than exhaustion - it's an emptiness. It's when you feel like you have nothing left to give, even to the things and people you love.
The World Health Organisation defines burnout as "a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed." It shows up as overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism or detachment, and a sense of ineffectiveness.
It's not new, but its pervasiveness is. And it's rarely caused by one single thing. Unrealistically high workloads, lack of control over decisions, isolation, lack of belonging or support, poor boundaries, and other life stresses often combine to push people beyond their limits.
Beneath it all, there's often conflictedness - an inner tug-of-war between what we think should happen and what is happening. Somewhere there's a lack of alignment with our values. Something isn't working, and that constant mental tension quietly drains energy day after day.
Here are three faces of burnout I've seen up close in recent months.
1. The Entrepreneur on the Edge
When Sinead, a highly successful self-employed businesswoman, came to my office, she was in tears.
She'd built a thriving business, worked with dream clients, and was admired for her drive and creativity. Yet behind the scenes, she was ready to quit it all.
"I've had enough. I can't keep doing this," she said. "I have to get a job."
Her exhaustion wasn't just from long hours - it came from constant stress in her mind. She loved her business, but she was bending over backwards for everyone else, and it wasn't working for her. She felt trapped between her ambitions and her limits.
We worked to rebuild her systems, boundaries and energy. She restructured her days, set up better systems at work, and established firmer boundaries with clients who were draining her. She began taking regular breaks. Within months, she was leading and winning again - not just surviving. The spark that helped her build her business had returned. She's back to enjoying the buzz of it all - and is now clear on her limits and far better at ensuring her partnerships work for her.
2. The Corporate High-Achiever Who Felt Empty
Through a corporate wellbeing programme, I met Laura, a senior professional who, on paper, had it all - the career, the family, the relationships, the home. But when we spoke, she said something that stopped me in my tracks:
"I feel empty. There's nothing in my day for me."
Every moment of her day was accounted for - work, family, even responding to phone calls during her commute. She only gave herself time when she was sick or exhausted - and most evenings, after cooking dinner, she collapsed in front of Netflix.
Even weekends and family events felt like an effort. After doing the basic chores, she was too tired to do or enjoy anything.
Laura's burnout came from emotional overload and poor boundaries. She hadn't given herself any space or permission to rest or simply be. Her inner conflict was between being the person everyone relied on and the voice inside her asking - and needing - space.
We worked on boundaries, self-care, and rediscovering her interests - things that gave her energy instead of draining it. Gradually, her perspective shifted. She didn't change her job or family life, but she changed how she showed up to both. She's now thriving - and loving life again.
3. The Star Employee Losing His Spark
Then there was Mark, referred by his employer. Once a top performer, his engagement and productivity had dropped. He was missing deadlines, visibly unhappy, and questioning whether he could deliver - or even if he belonged anymor...
