What Burnout Really Feels Like (and Why It's Not Just Being Tired)

Burnout is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot — especially in a culture where being exhausted is almost worn as a badge of honour. But here’s the truth: burnout is not just being tired. It’s a full-body, full-life crash. It’s your mind, body and spirit waving the white flag and saying, “I can’t keep going like this.” For many of the people I work with (and for me, once upon a time), burnout doesn’t show up as a single breaking point. It creeps in, slowly and quietly, until even the smallest tasks feel like mountains.

So, what does burnout really feel like?

If you're reading this and wondering if what you're experiencing might be burnout, here are some of the signs that often go unspoken — the ones people feel in their bones but don’t always know how to name.

1. You feel numb, but also on edge

You're snapping at your kids, your partner, or your colleagues, then immediately feeling guilty… but underneath it all, you're oddly disconnected. It's like you're walking around in a fog — half-alert, half-checked-out.

2. You're exhausted… but you can't sleep

You drag yourself through the day, counting down the hours until you can collapse into bed — but when you finally get there, your brain won’t stop. You lie awake replaying conversations, worrying about tomorrow, or just feeling wired but worn out.

3. Your brain just isn’t working like it used to

Forgetfulness. Brain fog. Struggling to concentrate on even simple things. Maybe you're making mistakes at work or missing appointments — not because you don’t care, but because your system is overloaded.

4. Small things feel huge

The dishwasher breaks and you feel like you might cry. Someone cuts you off in traffic and you have a full-blown meltdown. Everything feels harder than it “should,” and you're constantly asking yourself, Why can't I cope anymore?

5. You feel ashamed, but you don’t really know why

There’s a quiet, lingering sense that you’re failing — as a parent, a partner, a professional, a human being. You should be able to keep it together, right? Everyone else seems to be managing.

(Here’s the truth: they’re not. And you’re not failing — your system is trying to survive.)

The deeper truth about burnout

Burnout is a physiological and emotional shutdown. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Something needs to change.” Often, it’s the result of months or even years of pushing through — through trauma, grief, perfectionism, people-pleasing, chronic illness, or simply never putting yourself on the list.

Many of the people I work with were the strong ones, the dependable ones. The ones who always showed up — until one day, they couldn’t.

They didn’t recognise themselves anymore. And that’s one of the hardest parts of burnout: the loss of identity. You start to wonder: Where did I go?

So… what now?

If any of this resonates, please know: you're not alone, and it’s not your fault. Burnout is not a personal weakness — it's a sign that your life needs rebalancing, not that you are broken.

With the right support, recovery is possible. You can rebuild your energy, your confidence, and your sense of self. And not just that — you can create a life that actually feels like yours. One

where you feel nourished, not drained. Empowered, not stuck. Clear, not lost.

If you recognised yourself in this post, I’d love to hear from you. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Book a free discovery call or click here to explore how we can work together.

Let’s gently start putting the pieces back together — and rebuild something even better than before.