Burnout Starts Small. Here’s What I Missed.

A few months ago, while reading “The Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter on a long flight back home, a line hit me hard:

“Comfort is a slow death. Prefer pain.”

Now, I’m not someone who glorifies hustle or believes pain is noble. But Easter’s words reminded me of a different kind of pain — the one that creeps in quietly when you’re always “on.” The pain of burnout.

Unlike a broken bone or a fever, burnout doesn’t announce itself. It builds quietly. You start waking up tired. Creativity dries up. Meetings become draining. You feel like you’re sprinting on a treadmill that only speeds up.

I know this firsthand — not from a book or a podcast, but from a 16-hour workday followed by a missed birthday call to someone who mattered. That evening, I didn’t feel accomplished. I felt hollow. And that’s when I knew something had to change.

The Hidden Face of Burnout

Most people associate burnout with complete breakdown — emotional exhaustion, apathy, cynicism. But it’s rarely that dramatic at the beginning.

It starts with skipping one meal to answer just one more email.

Postponing that weekend getaway because “this project needs me.”

Checking Slack at 2 AM because you just need to know.

The truth? Burnout doesn’t always look like crashing.

Sometimes it looks like coping.

And that’s what makes it dangerous.

Energy is the New Currency

In leadership, we often talk about time management. But the real game-changer is energy management.

We don’t burn out because we have too much to do.

We burn out because we don’t refill what we’re constantly giving.

Here are a few simple shifts that helped me regain my rhythm — not in theory, but in practice:

1. Sleep is Strategy, Not Luxury

For years, I wore “4 hours of sleep” like a badge of honour. Until I realized that bad sleep was making my good decisions worse. Today, I guard my sleep like I guard my meetings — non-negotiable.

Start with this:

No screens 60 minutes before bed. Trust me, your brain will thank you.

2. Delegate Before You Disintegrate

This one took me years to learn. I used to believe delegating made me less involved. Turns out, it made me more impactful.

The question isn’t “Can I do this?”

It’s “Should I be the one doing this?”

If someone else can do it 80% as well, delegate. Leadership isn’t about doing everything — it’s about ensuring everything gets done well.

3. Unplug to Recharge

We’ve mastered Wi-Fi, but forgotten how to disconnect.

Once a month, I take a 24-hour digital detox - no emails, no phones, no pings. Just pen, paper, and presence.

It’s during these silent resets that I find the loudest answers.

The Check-In Ritual That Changed My Game

Every Sunday, I do a “burnout audit.”

I ask myself three questions:

• Am I waking up energized or drained?
• Do I feel joy in my work — or just relief when it ends?
• When did I last feel truly present — not productive?

If two out of three answers concern me, I adjust. Before it’s too late.

Protect the Asset

As a leader, founder, or professional — you are your biggest asset. And burnout is a silent thief. It doesn’t just steal energy; it steals clarity, creativity, and connection.

So don’t wait for a collapse.

Notice the nudge.

Listen to the whispers before they become screams.

Because avoiding burnout isn’t just about self-care — it’s about sustainability.

As I often remind myself and my team:

You can’t pour from an empty cup. But you can refill it before it’s empty.