You May Feel Burnt Out. But What If It Isn't the Work?

As therapists, we're often taught to watch for the signs of burnout: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, reduced effectiveness, and compassion fatigue. Last week I took some time off to slow down. I was wondering if i was in the early stages of burnout. I have chatted with friends, been to the gym, drunk my protein smoothies, sat on the couch with family, played games, had some supervision… I have also considered if it's all the changes in our industry (my background is change management so I know im good with change) but there is just this blah feeling that has come over me. That’s not me. Im excitable, I love to celebrate, I love to make the most of every moment and turn it into an adventure.

And certainly, there are times when workload is the problem.

But what if the exhaustion Im feeling isn't coming from working too much?

What if it's coming from never truly stopping?

Somewhere along the way, we've eliminated almost every attention gap from our lives.

Over the time off i realised I walk with a podcast playing in my ears. I ate some meals while scrolling a screen. I drive while taking phone calls. I wait in queues while checking emails. I fill every quiet moment with input. Can you relate?

The result is that our minds rarely experience empty space.

For therapists, this matters more than we may realise.

Every day we absorb stories, emotions, ethical dilemmas, risk assessments, and the weight of caring for others. We hold complexity. We sit with grief, trauma, uncertainty, and human suffering. Yet we may not be creating the conditions needed for our own minds and nervous systems to process what we're carrying.

The experiences of our day need moments of stillness to settle, integrate, and make sense of themselves. Reflection rarely happens while we're consuming more information.

Sometimes the most restorative moments are surprisingly ordinary:

• Driving home without a podcast.

• Walking without music.

• Sitting outside with a cup of tea.

• Watching the rain.

• Looking out a window.

• Taking five minutes between sessions with no agenda.

These moments can feel unproductive in a culture that celebrates constant optimisation.

But they may be some of the most productive things we do for our wellbeing.

Because we're allowing something. We're allowing our minds to wander, our nervous systems to regulate, and our internal world to catch up with our external demands.

If you're feeling exhausted, it may be worth asking yourself a different question.

Not only:

"Am I working too hard?"

But also:

"Have I left enough space for recovery?"

If you would like to discuss this more, reach out to us at admin@suzannebocking.com and we would be happy to support you through reflective supervision or counselling.