It's Time to Break the Cycle of Burnout

I survived 3 major burnouts and I hate to break it to you, but burnout isn’t just from too much work. That's why rest alone won’t fix it, only restart another cycle.

Author

Benjamin Knight
February 20, 2025

Know Thy Enemy: Understanding Burnout

If you want to conquer your enemy, you need to understand it first.

In it's essence, burnout is emotional depletion from constantly ignoring your own needs.

  • You smile when you’re struggling.

  • You say “yes” when you mean “no.”

  • You suppress emotions because expressing them feels unsafe.

Rest helps, but it doesn’t solve the root cause.

Burnout is a cycle fueled by the belief that your worth depends on how much you give, achieve, or endure.

To heal this cycle, you need to change how you live and work.

Here’s how:

Breaking Free: 3 Steps to True Healing

1. Name Your Needs

Burnout thrives when you ignore your emotional needs.

Start by identifying what you’re truly missing: connection, validation, rest, or safety.

2. Set Boundaries

Burnout grows in the absence of boundaries.

Saying “no” isn’t selfish—it’s self-care.

Protect your time and energy.

3. Challenge Your Beliefs

If you feel like you have to earn rest or success, ask yourself: Where did that belief come from?

Challenge the idea that hard work proves your worth.

Healing begins when you stop outsourcing your self-worth to productivity.

You don’t need to prove yourself—you need to support yourself.