By Calodagh McCumiskey, Wellbeing and Leadership Specialist
Burnout doesn’t look the same in all situations. It can be the high-performing entrepreneur who can’t stop crying – and can no longer see the wood for the trees.
Sometimes it’s the working parent with a full schedule and an empty tank.
Sometimes it’s the corporate star who’s lost his spark.
Burnout is more than exhaustion – it’s an emptiness. It’s when you feel like you have nothing left to give, even to the things and people you love.
The World Health Organisation defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” It shows up as overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism or detachment, and a sense of ineffectiveness.
It’s not new, but its pervasiveness is. And it’s rarely caused by one single thing. Unrealistically high workloads, lack of control over decisions, isolation, lack of belonging or support, poor boundaries, and other life stresses often combine to push people beyond their limits.
Beneath it all, there’s often conflictedness – an inner tug-of-war between what we think should happen and what is happening. Somewhere there’s a lack of alignment with our values. Something isn’t working, and that constant mental tension quietly drains energy day after day.
Here are three faces of burnout I’ve seen up close in recent months.
1. The Entrepreneur on the Edge
When Sinead, a highly successful self-employed businesswoman, came to my office, she was in tears.
She’d built a thriving business, worked with dream clients, and was admired for her drive and creativity. Yet behind the scenes, she was ready to quit it all.
“I’ve had enough. I can’t keep doing this,” she said. “I have to get a job.”
Her exhaustion wasn’t just from long hours – it came from constant stress in her mind. She loved her business, but she was bending over backwards for everyone else, and it wasn’t working for her. She felt trapped between her ambitions and her limits.
We worked to rebuild her systems, boundaries and energy. She restructured her days, set up better systems at work, and established firmer boundaries with clients who were draining her. She began taking regular breaks. Within months, she was leading and winning again – not just surviving. The spark that helped her build her business had returned. She’s back to enjoying the buzz of it all – and is now clear on her limits and far better at ensuring her partnerships work for her.
2. The Corporate High-Achiever Who Felt Empty
Through a corporate wellbeing programme, I met Laura, a senior professional who, on paper, had it all – the career, the family, the relationships, the home. But when we spoke, she said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“I feel empty. There’s nothing in my day for me.”
Every moment of her day was accounted for – work, family, even responding to phone calls during her commute. She only gave herself time when she was sick or exhausted – and most evenings, after cooking dinner, she collapsed in front of Netflix.
Even weekends and family events felt like an effort. After doing the basic chores, she was too tired to do or enjoy anything.
Laura’s burnout came from emotional overload and poor boundaries. She hadn’t given herself any space or permission to rest or simply be. Her inner conflict was between being the person everyone relied on and the voice inside her asking – and needing – space.
We worked on boundaries, self-care, and rediscovering her interests – things that gave her energy instead of draining it. Gradually, her perspective shifted. She didn’t change her job or family life, but she changed how she showed up to both. She’s now thriving – and loving life again.
3. The Star Employee Losing His Spark
Then there was Mark, referred by his employer. Once a top performer, his engagement and productivity had dropped. He was missing deadlines, visibly unhappy, and questioning whether he could deliver – or even if he belonged anymore.
“I used to love my job,” he said. “Now I wake up dreading going to work. I can’t seem to get back to who I was.”
Mark’s burnout stemmed from chronic stress and a growing sense of isolation. He’d fallen into the habit of checking emails late at night and early in the morning. His mind was always on. Even though his employer didn’t expect it, he felt he had to.
Over time, he became more and more exhausted. His confidence and performance dropped. It became a vicious circle. He began to feel disconnected from his colleagues and depressed. He felt guilty because he had no energy left for his family. He had no energy left for himself either.
Through coaching, he began rebuilding his energy step by step. He started leaving his work phone in the car at the end of the day and only checked it when he arrived at the office the next morning. He learned short relaxation practices. His sleep and mood improved. He began to have energy for his life again. He started planning things again on the weekend that he enjoyed.
He no longer wants to quit his job, and his employer is delighted and relieved. The company didn’t just retain a valued employee – they reignited a leader.
The Common Thread: Boundaries, Conflictedness, and Disconnection
Though their lives looked very different, Sinead, Laura, and Mark (not their real names) shared the same underlying pattern – they were all living out of alignment with themselves.
They needed rest but felt guilty taking it.
They craved ‘balance’ but didn’t know how to create it without letting someone down.
They were constantly giving – yet felt disconnected from their own needs and what nourished them.
This kind of inner conflict is one of the most underestimated drivers of burnout. It’s not just about external pressures – it’s about the misalignment between our values and our daily reality. Sustainable wellbeing requires boundaries. To thrive, we must meet our own needs – and make choices that reflect who we are.
A Growing Epidemic in Ireland
Research shows burnout isn’t just an individual problem – it’s systemic.
Globally, 72% of employees have at least one symptom of burnout. We become less productive the more burned out we are!
In Ireland:
— Three in ten employees say they are “very often” or “always” burnt out.
— Over 60% feel more stressed now than before 2020, according to the University of Limerick.
— Workers in health, public administration, and manufacturing report the highest stress, followed by professionals, managers, and those in education.
— In the mental-health field, burnout rates range from 31% to 65%, with work-related burnout more common than patient-related stress.
Unrealistic workloads, disconnection and loneliness, the cost-of-living crisis, life stress, and lack of quality sleep and recovery are further driving rates of burnout. One-third of adults in Ireland sleep less than six hours a night.
Burnout has become a national – and global issue – one that costs companies and people not only in terms of wellbeing, but also in terms of innovation, productivity, and growth. It affects relationships and every area of life of those impacted by it.
How to Begin the Reset
If you see yourself or someone you know in these stories, remember: burnout is reversible. It’s a warning light – a signal that something needs to change.
Start here:
1. Check your energy, workload, and responsibilities.
Ask: What’s draining me? What’s fuelling me?
2. Set boundaries.
Even deciding when to pause or take a walk can rebuild a sense of control – particularly when done daily. I’ve seen many people transform their lives by starting with two one-minute breathing practices each day – and building from there.
3. Reconnect.
Isolation fuels burnout; community restores perspective and belonging. Connect with the right people.
4. Simplify.
Focus on what truly matters. Cut what you can and let the rest wait.
5. Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s an intelligent message from your system that something must change.
When we listen, realign, and replenish, burnout can become not an ending but the beginning of a more meaningful, fulfilling, and joyful way to live and work.
About the Author
Calodagh McCumiskey is a multi-award-winning wellbeing and leadership specialist, keynote speaker, and coach. She helps organisations and individuals build resilience, clarity, and sustainable high performance.
Before founding her wellbeing company, Spiritual Earth, Calodagh spent 14 years working in war zones and disaster areas around the world. The intensity and pace of that work eventually led to her own experience of burnout – and fuelled her desire to help others prevent it. You can learn more about her work at www.calodagh.com and www.spiritualearth.com.
