There is a special kind of burnout that doesn’t show up as dramatic collapse. It is quieter. More private. It sounds like “what’s the point” whispered under your breath while you close your laptop for the third time because your brain simply cannot do another email, another follow up, another attempt at explaining a need that has already been ignored or misunderstood.

There’s this funny thing that happens with ambitious, compassionate humans. We assume the weight of everything. Client expectations, family stuff, inbox guilt, “I should reply to that” energy, the pressure to keep the plates spinning so no one thinks we’re dropping the ball.

In recent years, the concept of “boundaries” has become increasingly recognised in the workplace. While the idea is often discussed in the context of wellbeing and leadership, maintaining clear and consistent boundaries in practice can be far more challenging.