From Burnout to Balance: How to Reclaim Your Well-Being at Work

“I just can’t do this job one more day!” This was the first thing my client said to me when she walked into my office. She proceeded to tell me about the countless tasks she had, emails to return, and meetings to attend. She told me about the joy she used to have at work and the difference she felt she was making. In contrast, the person before me looked frustrated, exhausted, and detached.

A January 2025 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that due to mental health concerns, one in four participants have considered quitting their job. They further note though that while mental health concerns are significant, many employees are still reluctant to share their concerns due to stigma. Though mental health awareness and conversation have increased, stigma - especially in the workplace - continue to negatively impact people’s ability to share their challenges openly.

Due to our work-focused culture, we are all at risk for workplace stress and burnout. There are particular signs of burnout to be aware of including difficulty concentrating, feeling down or with little energy to complete tasks, increased health concerns, and increased use of alcohol or drugs. You can also ask yourself questions like “do I question my value or the value of my work?”, “have I been less patient with co-workers?”, and “do I no longer feel attached to my workplace?” By evaluating our stress and burnout risk, we can assess our current state of being.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. The month of May brings flowers and trees in bloom, warm rain, and the shedding of winter grey. It is the perfect time to evaluate how we are feeling and begin a new season of self-care. To move towards relieving burnout and having a consistent wellness routine, we must establish goals. The authors of Burnout remind us that “we thrive when we have a positive goal to move toward, not just a negative state we’re trying to move away from” (Nagoski & Nagoski, 2020).

To relieve the symptoms of burnout, we must create new pathways. We can begin by increasing movement through exercise, improving our eating and sleeping habits, talking with a vocational coach or counselor, and spending more time with loved ones and in nature. Our personal well-being and levels of stress are impacted by many factors. By utilizing the tools available to us, we can take the necessary steps towards our wellness.