THE BURNOUT GENERATION: WHY WE’RE ALWAYS EXHAUSTED

Modern life feels overwhelming. Many of us wake up tired, run on caffeine, and end the day drained. Burnout, once linked to high-pressure careers, has become a defining feature of daily life not just about work, but about how we live.

A Modern Epidemic

Burnout is now recognised by the World Health Organization as an occupational phenomenon, yet it extends far beyond the office. Rates of chronic stress and emotional exhaustion are rising across all ages, with younger adults among the most affected. Many feel depleted before life has even fully begun.

Why Are We Burning Out?

The causes are deeply rooted in modern culture.

The always-on digital world keeps our minds in constant alert. Emails, notifications, and endless scrolling blur the line between work and rest, leaving no space for real recovery.

Our productivity obsession has made busyness a badge of honour. Every minute must be optimised; rest feels unearned. This pressure to always achieve leaves little room to breathe.

Economic and social pressures also play their part rising living costs, job insecurity, and the constant comparison of online life all fuel a sense of inadequacy and exhaustion.

Breaking the Cycle

Burnout isn’t just tiredness it’s depletion of energy, motivation, and joy. Over time, it can lead to anxiety, depression, and physical illness.

The first step to recovery is recognising that rest is not a weakness. Boundaries, balance, and genuine downtime are vital. Disconnecting from screens, getting outside, and reconnecting with people who restore us can make a profound difference.

Ultimately, we need a shift in values away from productivity and towards presence. Burnout is not a personal failure but a collective signal that something in our culture needs to change. By slowing down, we can begin to rediscover what it means to live well not just keep up.