Knowing When Your Time Is Up: From Burnout to Breakthrough

 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that when a person exceeds their limits, they must pause for a moment of reflection to figure out a way forward.

This is the story about acceptance, finding courage, and moving forward into the unknown. This is not one of those countless social media posts where I tell you, with no context, to just quit your job, focus on your passion, or hustle and things will work out. I do believe that, in the grand scheme of things, things work out; but making this kind of decision takes some thinking, planning, figuring out finances, and considering your support systems.

Despite what social media may try to convince you, it is not such a glamorous act. It’s rather nerve-wracking, liberating, and brings a mix of happiness and anxiety all at the same time. It is not a right decision for everyone; but it was a right decision for me.

There are plenty of people out there who are happy where they are in their professional lives, and that’s okay. For the longest time, I was one of them, until I wasn’t. It started with getting excited to go out into the world, taking my lattes and flat whites to go, and solving every work problem I possibly could, with no boundaries and no rest. And then I stopped feeling happy about the work that I was doing, the people I was dealing with, the commute, the office coffee… all of it.

In all fairness, I’ve never met anyone who actually truthfully likes coffee at the office, so that one can be excluded from the list. Still, I couldn’t exactly pinpoint what was happening to me. At the time, I didn’t know the moment had come to step down.

The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. If you got that reference, kudos to you; if not – I wholeheartedly recommend watching the pilot episode of HBO’s Newsroom. But it’s far more than some TV quote; it is a fact we all can relate to. For me, this meant I needed to recognize that I am experiencing burnout and am deeply unhappy with my job in order to ‘solve’ it.

A couple of years into my corporate job, unusual things started happening. I began experiencing a few out-of-nowhere health issues, loss of interest, and a constant feeling of being drained, tired, and irritated. Things that once excited me now felt indifferent. As time went on, I transformed from being the most intense morning person, the one who made people roll their eyes with my cheerful elevator chats, to someone barely able to get out of bed.

Originally, I thought having these feelings just meant entering the inevitable existential dread phase. Making jokes, sharing memes (Michael Scott’s Dead Inside gif again and again and again), but it wasn’t quite that. I’ve never subscribed to the belief that life has no meaning anyways (sorry not sorry, Nietzsche). However, in the depths of burnout, it certainly felt that way.

Several doctor’s visits later, and everything seemed okay, but the same feelings persisted. The answer was obvious – it was time to acknowledge the elephant in the room. A word I rolled my eyes at upon hearing as an explanation for what I was feeling and experiencing: BURNOUT. Big whoop. So what? Challenge accepted, universe; I am fixing this in no time. Aside from all the mental health ally badges I carried at work, when it came down to me, it could never happen, and if it does, I can fix it.

Obviously, I couldn’t have been more wrong. When the system crashed, the only question that remained was – what will I do about this time? Keep pushing forward or actually dare to do something different? It feels like with the right circumstances, it is easy to be brave, but that’s not always the case.

As someone who was raised to be an achiever, I always believed in perseverance. Growing up in a Slavic household, tradition, hard work, and good grades were valued. Struggling with something or quitting just because you didn’t like it was never an option. Try telling any of our parents or grandparents this – they would immediately recount a story, a story of walking miles to get to school, of carrying heavy things from the market, having little opportunities and surviving through it all and so on. It was always a story of pushing through struggles and staying determined.

While these narratives hold value and meaning, I am glad that today we are embracing a new perspective. We can appreciate where we came from while also making the choice to prioritise our well-being and mental health, a privilege that was not given to those who came before us. Sometimes, saying no and backing down from a challenge can be far more radical, and ultimately, it can lead us further.

Choosing bravery sometimes means accepting the current situation and having the courage to seek something better instead of standing and struggling in one place. I know that making this choice led me to feeling much better, hopeful, creative and excited again.

Leaving behind the security of a familiar job, situation, or even a relationship can be a daunting yet liberating decision. It marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our adult lives. It is almost like one of those movie moments played in real life, filled with hope, potential, and wondering what the protagonist will do next. I believe there is some magic in that hope.

For me, deciding to quit my job and embark on a path of recovery, not knowing what comes next, was not just about making a change. It was about reclaiming my time, energy, and sense of purpose. It was about recognizing when something no longer aligns with my values and goals and having the courage to pursue something better.

However, making that decision was and is also filled with anxiety, self-doubt, and uncertainty. I’ve learned that the sooner I accept this and befriend them – the better. If you are also finding yourself at the crossroads, wondering what to do next – remember, change is often the catalyst and the push for growth we need. It is a risk, but it could be the one that’s worth taking.

I want to dedicate this post to everyone who is rethinking their life and career choices, to those, like me, who are trying to figure out what is coming next and gathering their courage to walk away from jobs and situations that no longer fill them with happiness. Particularly to those who are also bravely taking the step into the unknown, perhaps for the first time in their life (you know who you are). I I look forward to crossing paths with you on this journey.