When tired becomes burnout: understanding exhaustion as a director

Everyone gets tired. Burnout is different. It's the kind of exhaustion that a weekend off doesn't touch, often joined by a sense of detachment from work you once cared about.

Three common threads

People describing burnout often talk about feeling drained, feeling more cynical or distant, and feeling less effective, as though they're working harder for less. You might recognise one, two or all three.

Why directors are at risk

When the business depends on you, rest can feel like a luxury. There's often no one to hand over to, and the line between work and home blurs. Over months and years, that steady load adds up.

Starting to recover

Recovery tends to begin with small, protected pockets of rest, honest conversations, and support from people outside the business. A GP or a service like NewAccess for Small Business Owners can be a helpful place to start.