Why Burnout Looks Different These Days

This originally appeared in Forbes on May 16, 2025.

Burnout used to look like late nights, exhaustion, a full calendar and a never-ending to-do list. It’s the final manifestation of pushing too hard. In the past, it was easy to identify when you were burned out because your energy reserves were literally depleted. But burnout is increasingly showing up as a state of deep apathy versus the exhaustion of busyness we've come to associate with the emotion. Because of this change, many are struggling to even diagnose what they are currently feeling as a symptom of burnout.

Boston Consulting Group reports that almost half of surveyed employees state that they're burned out. Instead of the frantic energy of overcommitment, this form of burnout is presenting as employees who are quietly disengaging. They're not showcasing the classic signs of burnout, which are fatigue, absenteeism, and irritability. Rather, they're just not showing up mentally. Passion projects are paused indefinitely, tasks feel meaningless, and things at work that used to make sense now just seem pointless. This version of burnout is not about being overwhelmed by too much; it's about being underwhelmed by everything.

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