Are You Burned Out or Just Tired? Understanding Emotional Exhaustion

You wake up tired. You power through the day. You feel numb or irritable. You can’t remember the last time you truly felt rested. So… is it burnout, or are you just tired?

Here’s the difference:

• Being tired can often be fixed with rest, sleep, or a break.

• Burnout is deeper. It’s emotional and mental exhaustion that doesn’t go away with a weekend off.

Burnout often shows up as:

• Feeling cynical or detached from your work or relationships

• Constant overwhelm, even with small tasks

• Brain fog, forgetfulness, or low motivation

• Physical symptoms like headaches or stomach issues

Burnout is your nervous system waving a white flag. It says: “This pace is not sustainable.”

The first step to healing burnout is recognizing it’s not a personal failure, it’s often the result of chronic stress, poor boundaries, or high internal expectations.

If you're feeling more than “just tired,” therapy can help you reconnect to your needs, set boundaries that stick, and find a way back to yourself.