Nine to Thrive.

Burnout has almost become expected in today’s hustle culture. We glorify being busy, staying late, and always saying yes… until we crash. As I grow in my career, I’ve learned how easy it is to fall into that trap. Recently, I sat down with my boss and straight-up asked him, “Do you like your job?” His answer completely shifted how I think about burnout.

I thought burnout just “happens” to me, but in reality I help create it.

The Hard Truth

My boss didn’t answer my question right away, which of course made me a little skeptical. But when he finally did, what he said was pure reality.

Being a General Manager of a casino is a high-pressure job. He loves what he does, but it’s stressful because he makes it stressful. Why? Because he really cares about his job.

He told me his position is really demanding and overwhelming (understandable). He faces burnout all the time. Even though he technically works 40 hours a week, he’s really working 24/7 answering calls and emails long after hours.

It’s all because he cares about every detail, every department, every presentation. It’s ironically why I jokingly gave him the nickname “Seagull”. He’s always swooping in to double-check everyone’s work. It’s funny but it says a lot: he cares deeply about how things look, run, and reflect on the company.

And that’s the hard truth…sometimes, how much you care about your job could become your downfall. Our habits and mindsets often fuel burnout, not because we’re lazy or broken, but because we simply care too much.

Why We Do It

I’ll admit it. I’m a people-pleaser and a perfectionist at heart. If I want something done right, I’ll usually just do it myself. I don’t always trust that others will do it the same way and that’s part of the problem.

Many of us become “the reliable one,” the person who never says no. We start to believe that exhaustion equals dedication, and burnout becomes a weird kind of badge of honor.

Cianna Garrison wrote that being too invested in your job often shows up when you neglect other parts of your life or tie your entire identity to your work. And that’s exactly when burnout, disillusionment, and disappointment creep in.

How to Put Out the Fire

Finding the perfect work-life balance might be futile but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to find happiness and fulfillment. To help put out your fires, start small:

• Add rest to to your definition of “doing your best”.
• Stop measuring your worth by productivity.
• Set boundaries!
• Let “good enough” just be “good enough”.

I’m not telling you to care less about your work. I’m telling you to care better. Set boundaries. Fight perfectionism. Prioritize moving through life a little slower, and stop being the yes-man for everyone else’s needs.

You may have caused your own burnout, but that means you have the power to end it.

Take a step back and think about why you are feeling the way you are feeling. Is your burnout caused by you caring too much? Why do you care too much? Have you set boundaries?

These questions are your fire extinguisher. Sometimes, thriving means learning to care a little less so you can care for yourself a little more.

Until next time,

Callie

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